Wemby is part of a new generation that has now passed legends like LeBron, Durant and Curry in just his 3rd season.

We reached the end of ESPN’s three-day blitz of releasing it’s top 100 players for the 2025-26 season, with the release of players 10-1 today. To no one’s surprise, the Spur we haven’t seen yet is in that range, but where he is may surprise some. Heading into just his third season in the NBA, and despite missing half of his second, ESPN staffers have Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama at no. 5, coming in ahead of legends such as Kevin Durant, LeBron James, and Steph Curry (which he very well may be, I’m just surprise they had the nerve to “go there”).

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Here is what they had to say:

5. Victor Wembanyama, C, San Antonio Spurs

2024 NBA Rank: 11

Wembanyama certainly looks like he’s ready to roll. The San Antonio Spurs recently visited Ingram Tom Moore High School, an area hit hard by devastating floods that swept through the Texas Hill Country back in July, and Wembanyama led the team through an abbreviated workout in front of the students. Tossing the basketball off the backboard, Wembanyama jumped to catch it before putting it through his legs and slamming home a thunderous dunk that whipped the spectators into a frenzy. Wembanyama made it look easy.

Biggest question: Will Wembanyama’s whirlwind summer pay dividends this season?

It should. After sitting out the final 30 games of last season because of deep vein thrombosis, Wembanyama received a clean bill of health in July during a busy summer in which the 21-year-old trained for 10 days at a Shaolin temple in Zhengzhou, China, and worked with Hall of Fame big men Kevin Garnett and Hakeem Olajuwon. It’s a safe bet that Wembanyama’s work with Garnett will instill a little more aggressiveness into the Frenchman’s game, while Olajuwon likely schooled the third-year Spur in the sweet footwork and post moves that made the 12-time All-Star virtually unstoppable for 18 seasons in the NBA. Wembanyama believes that some of the moves performed during his Kung Fu training in China mimic what he’ll be doing on the court. — (Michael C.) Wright

Signature stat: Victor Wembanyama became the 3rd player with a 5×5 game, a 10-block game and a 50-point game in the same season since blocks/steals became official in 1973-74, joining 1992-93 David Robinson and 1989-90 Hakeem Olajuwon.

Fantasy projection: 24.7 PTS, 11.5 REB, 4.0 BLK

It’s clear the majority of ESPN’s staff believes Wemby has already surpassed the old guard, with a more recent generation of MVP’s and champions — Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Giannis Antetokounmpo — plus a slimmed down and motivated Luka Doncic being the only players in front of him. That of course puts more pressure on Wemby to start winning at the same level as those players. All four have at least led their teams to the finals in this decade, and all except Doncic won the championship. While it would be a stretch to say Wemby will do the same this year (at least until we see more), it’s time for the Spurs to at least make the playoffs again, maybe even win a series or two, to take the next step and help justify his top 5 ranking.

The good news Wemby will have his best supporting cast yet with an actual star point guard running the show in a healthy De’Aaron Fox, a young core of hungry up-and-comers in Stephon Castle, Jeremy Sochan and Dylan Harper (to name a few), good role players hitting their primes in Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson, plus experienced veterans and depth in the front court that was lacking in his first two seasons in Harrison Barnes, Luke Kornet and Kelly Olynyk.

There are still many things the Spurs need to get better at, such as consistency on both sides of the ball, complementary outside shooting, and just staying healthy, but this is the year to make a leap. It will be a tough path in a stacked and very deep Western Conference but with 4 top 100 players, it’s much more possible than at any other point over the last six years.