The image, frankly, was a little jarring. Kevin Durant, the Durantula, the 6’10” forward with the 7'5" wingspan, the former MVP who turbocharged the evolution of the big man when he entered the NBA in 2007, standing at the free throw lane in the shadow of Victor Wembanyama, the next iteration of it. An “avatar version” of Durant, said Raptors coach Darko Rajaković, who watched the game on TV.
In his teens—early teens, actually—Wembanyama studied Durant, marveling at his skill set. “I like the fact that for years and years nobody found a way to guard him consistently,” said Wembanyama.
After Wembanyama scored 38 points in a November game against Phoenix, Durant could only marvel. “He’s different,” the Suns forward said, adding that Wemby, officially listed at 7'4" with a wingspan stretching eight feet, “is going to create his own lane that’s much different than anybody who’s ever played.”
