Any debate that may exist about the future greatness of San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama centers on when he'll become one of the NBA's best. Count Los Angeles Clippers star Paul George among those who say sooner rather than later. Really soon.
“He's a problem,” the 14-year veteran said.
“Because I think the way he finished the year was the momentum he needed going into this summer to be a totally different player coming into next season.”
George made the comments on his YouTube show, Podcast P with Paul George (Pres. by Wave Sports + Entertainment).
Paul George's extended thoughts on Victor Wembanyama
The Fresno State product spoke about the generational talent for about six minutes on his latest episode.
“The way he finished the year, I think, is scary for the league,” the former Indiana Pacer and Oklahoma City Thunder star said.
“You just look at the game against Denver [Nuggets], the match-up against Philly [Philadelphia 76ers] – he had some really good games to close this year out where it was, like, damn, this is what Wemby is.”
In a contest on the Sunday exactly one week before the season finale, Victor Wembanyama scored 33 points, grabbed 18 rebounds, blocked 7 shots, and dished out 6 assists while shooting 11/20 from the field vs. Philadelphia. It was not the only time he had come reasonably close to a quadruple-double.
In the Rookie of the Year's last game of the season (the Spurs' second to last of 2023-2024), he led an upset of the then defending champion, Denver Nuggets, with 32 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists.
“The problem is he doesn't have the personnel – not that the guys around him aren't good enough, it's just the personnel is not ready for all that he brings and his talents,” George said about why the 22-60 Spurs didn't win more.
“Say, you had a C.P. [Chris Paul] or a Rondo [Rajon Rondo], those guys that just know basketball and know that he's 7-5: ‘Wemby go right there, I'm going to throw it as high as I can, go catch it and dunk it,' somebody that can sit down and explain the game to him like this. If they front you, just spin, that ball's going to be there. He doesn't have that type of personnel around him to do that. And that's really all it takes from him to unlock,” George continued before he answered a question about Tre Jones, who served as SA's main point guard this past season.
“He's doesn't have that experience of being able to tell Wemby, ‘Listen, you go right here, that ball's going to be right there.' There were plays in the game and, obviously, Instagram shows it all, plays where he's wide open but they look him off, where he's begging for it and they don't see him,” George said specifically about Jones.
“They don't have that player that knows how to find him and get him the ball in his spots where he can just be special.”
George thinks that'll happen soon. The NBA Draft is only a week away before free agency officially begins. So we don't have to wait very long to see how soon the Spurs put any pieces in place.
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