Through his first two and a half seasons in the NBA, Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs has done things on the basketball court that have likely never been seen before and will never be seen again.
However, former NBA star Jason Williams doesn’t believe the hype, and speaking on his podcast, ‘Hoopin and Hollerin’, the playmaking legend called out the Spurs’ franchise star on multiple fronts.
Most notably, Williams said Wembanyama is not one of the best first overall draft picks over the past few years.
“I‘m going Cade Cunningham (over Wembanyama),” he said in a discussion about all the recent first overall draft picks. “Nah, I’m going (Cade), Ant Edwards, and then Wemby.”
While he’s been injured for a decent stretch this season, while coming off the bench in nine games for San Antonio, Wembanyama is averaging 24.3 points, 11.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 2.8 blocks on 51.6% shooting in 25 appearances.
Jason Williams Takes Shots At Victor Wembanyama
Both Edwards and Cunningham are great players in their own right, and while directly comparing all three, as well as some of the other top draft picks over the past few years, might prove to be a futile exercise.
Yet still, the impact of Wembanyama is impossible to deny. He’s arguably already one of the best two-way players in the league, with the ability to block shots and protect the rim, while going down the other side of the court and hitting a defender with a cross-over and making a step back three-pointer.
However, Williams takes umbrage with that notion as well, specifically regarding Wembanyama on the defensive end of the floor.
“Alonzo Morning is a shot-blocker,” he said, in what was a backhanded compliment on how Wembanyama can block shots from nearly any point on the floor. “Real shot-blockers are standing there waiting.”
“Alonzo Morning is a shot-blocker…Real shot-blockers are standing there waiting.”
(🎥 @hoopinghollerin )
Williams also said the Spurs’ recent success has much to do with the roster the team has built around their star player, rather than just Wembanyama himself.
“What’s Wemby do on the Grizzlies?” Williams asked. “No knock to the Grizzlies, but what’s he do on that roster? He’s not as good on the Grizzlies roster as supposed to the Spurs roster.”
Finally, Williams also said the question of who is better between Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren is closer than most people think.
The San Antonio star has already shared his thoughts on the rivalry between the two.
Spurs And Thunder Set For Rematch
In what will be the fourth edition of the NBA’s next biggest rivalry, the Spurs will face off against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night. San Antonio has already beaten the defending champions three times this season, once in early December, again in the NBA Cup semifinals, and most recently on Christmas.
Since the Spurs showed their dominance over the Thunder, Oklahoma City has taken a recent skid, now 33-7, including a stretch in which they went 6-6.
Defending NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said after their last loss to their now-foes that he believed they were a better team, and that with their three-consecutive losses, they’d have a lot to prove in their next matchup.
Most recently, after the Thunder beat the Miami Heat, SGA once again commented on the rematch with Wembanyama and San Antonio.
“Now, it’s obviously a very good team who’s gotten the better of us recently. So yeah, it should be a fun one. It should be competitive,” he said in his postgame press conference. “We’ve got to go out there and do the necessary things to win a game. And if we don’t, we’ll most likely lose.”
Wembanyama has made his thoughts on the Thunder and his ‘rival‘ in Holmgren abundantly clear, but the upcoming game between the Western Conference’s two top teams will say a lot if they do end up matching up again in the postseason.
Additionally, Williams lighting a fire under the 7’5” French center might not be the best move as San Antonio attempts to make a clean sweep against the champs.
NBA Legend Rips Victor Wembanyama Before Spurs-Thunder Rematch