Victor Wembanyama entered the NBA as one of the most hyped prospects in league history, going No. 1 overall to the San Antonio Spurs in 2023. His rookie season justified the hype, as he averaged 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 3.6 blocks per game en route to winning Rookie of the Year. The 7-foot-4 forward looked to be on an upward trajectory in his second season and quickly established himself as a defensive force.
Averaging 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 3.7 assists, he was dubbed the early-season favorite to win the Defensive Player of the Year Award. But his 2024-25 campaign was cut short after he was diagnosed with a deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder, ruling him out for the remainder of the season.
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San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama (1).Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
With Wembanyama fully cleared to return to action with heightened expectations on his shoulders, ESPN put his name in the spotlight following the release of its annual Top 100 NBA players list for the upcoming season.
The rankings placed Nikola Jokic at No. 1, followed by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Wembanyama rounding out the top five. While the placement highlights belief in his ceiling, the move sparked backlash from fans who argue his résumé does not yet warrant top-five recognition.
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“Wild that Wemby is 5. Just say you’re trying to push a narrative.🤣🤣,” one fan wrote.
“I’m sorry but how is Wemby better than ANT???” another fan questioned.
“What exactly has Wemby done to be top 5 ?” a third fan added.
“When does Wemby actually have to start producing results to get value. Everyone else they require actual production and proof, but Wemby is based solely on potential,” a fan noted.
“wemby at 5 is crazy lol. he aint do nothing to be top 5 already,” another wrote.
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“By Wemby’s age Ant was averaging 28.4 PPG over two yrs in the playoffs and has since pushed his team to the WCF twice,” another fan said.
Critics pointed to the fact that other stars with more proven playoff track records, such as Anthony Edwards, Jayson Tatum, and Jalen Brunson were ranked behind him. Veteran superstars Steph Curry (7), LeBron James (8), and Kevin Durant (9) also made the top 10 list.
Wembanyama will be out to prove all the doubters wrong when the Spurs open their 2025-26 campaign on Oct. 23 on the road against the Dallas Mavericks.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Sep 25, 2025, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.