Victor Wembanyama could be the face of the NBA in a few years. For now, the 21-year-old San Antonio Spurs center is soaking up as much knowledge as he can get from the league’s active legends.<\/p>\n
“I have a note on my phone with questions to ask the guys, KD (Kevin Durant), ‘Bron (LeBron James),” Wembanyama said<\/a> on stage at Fanatics Fest in New York Saturday. “I had the chance to talk to [Nikola] Joki\u0107 for 45 minutes at All-Star [Weekend]. And I’m taking notes.”<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Wembanyama added: “When I’m told something, I don’t forget it. It’s super precious, for sure.”<\/p>\n Wembanyama, a French native and soon-to-be third-year NBA player, shared the stage Saturday with James, as well as with seven-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Tom Brady, in a live version of James’ talk show, “The Shop: Uninterrupted.”<\/p>\n The respect Wembanyama has for the future Hall of Famers he mentioned is certainly reciprocated.<\/p>\n When James was asked Saturday how much longer he would play before retiring, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar joked that the 7-foot-3 Wembanyama \u2014 who led the NBA this season with 3.8 blocks per game \u2014 might send him into retirement.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n “I can’t play that much further,” James said<\/a>. “And the more and more time that I play, as long as he keeps smacking my f***ing shots into the stands, he’s gonna make me retire.”<\/p>\n Wembanyama responded in jest that James, 40, might retire after him.<\/p>\n Earlier this season, Joki\u0107 heaped praise on Wembanyama.<\/p>\n “I think he’s better this year than last year, and I think he’s going to get even better,” Joki\u0107 said of Wembanyama<\/a> on Jan. 4, after Wembanyama’s Spurs defeated Joki\u0107’s Denver Nuggets.<\/p>\n “I think he’s a special player. I think he’s one of a kind and is going to be remembered forever.”<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n That night marked the first dueling 35-point, 15-rebound performances in an NBA game since 2019. Wembanyama notched 35 points and 18 rebounds, plus a game-sealing steal off a pass from Joki\u0107. Meanwhile, the three-time MVP recorded 41 points, 18 rebounds and 9 assists.<\/p>\n When San Antonio announced on Feb. 20 that Wembanyama would miss the rest of the season with a blood clot in his right shoulder<\/a>, Durant imparted impactful words just hours later, following a Spurs win over his Phoenix Suns.<\/p>\n