Although Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama struggled offensively in his NBA Summer League debut, the hype surrounding the big man remains on a level of its own. Wembanyama’s upside and skill set have led to myriad player comparisons from analysts, players and former players alike, but one such correlation drawn by a Hall of Famer may take the cake.
During an interview with SiriusXM NBA Radio, Lakers legend and NBA executive board member Jerry West offered his own comp of Wembanyama.
“He reminds me of a bigger Bill Russell,” West stated.
In terms of all-time high praise, it doesn't get much more impressive than that. Celtics great Bill Russell, viewed by many observers as one of the greatest players in basketball history, won 11 NBA titles and five NBA Most Valuable Player awards. Russell’s No. 6 is retired across the entire league as a tribute to his contributions.
While having a career even remotely close to Russell’s would be a lot to ask of Wembanyama, it’s obvious he has very big shoes to fill as his own NBA journey gets underway.
