Nikola Jokic Claims Victor Wembanyama Is “Changing Basketball”, Happy to Retire Before He Dominates

Once every generation or two, a player comes along who changes the way basketball is played. Victor Wembanyama’s arrival has signaled the potential for a similar impact on the game. The greats who are in their peak today are left in awe each time Wemby takes to the court. Nikola Jokic, for one, would love to hang up his boots before the Spurs big man reaches his prime.

Ever since he joined the league in 2023, Wembanyama has changed how bigs are viewed. He’s almost “alien-like”. At 7’4″, he moves like a guard, shoots from deep, and also grabs rebounds like he’s picking fruit from his backyard.

It’s not something that has ever been seen in the NBA before. And it’s just his third season in America. Jokic, a three-time MVP who’s in the running for a fourth, gave his flowers to Wembanyama in a recent interview with X&O’s Chat. He also made a bold prediction about the Frenchman’s future.

“He is changing basketball,” Jokic said. “He’s a rim protector, he’s shooting threes. He is unique. I’m glad that I’ll probably retire before Wemby holds the entire league in a chokehold.”

Nikola Jokic on Victor Wembanyama:

“He is changing basketball. He’s a rim protector, he’s shooting threes. He is unique. I’m glad that I’ll probably retire before Wemby holds the entire league in a chokehold.”

(Via @XOsChat) pic.twitter.com/2GjZrZa8kE

— NBA Base (@TheNBABase) March 9, 2026

The Serbian feels that Wembanyama will become the best player in the league soon. That’s a big statement because there are a plethora of young talents who would be staking their claim to be the top player of the generation. Anthony Edwards of the Timberwolves, who is just 24, and Cooper Flagg of the Mavericks, who just turned 19 a few months back, are two strong candidates

Could Wembanyama, 22, be the face of the league ahead of those two stars? The signs are certainly pointing toward that.

The Spurs, after struggling to make it to the top 10 in the last two seasons, are a contender now… Not just for the playoffs, but for the Championship. They’re #2 in the West, and have given leaders, the OKC Thunder, a run for their money. San Antonio ended with a 3-1 record against the Thunder in the regular season.

If Wembanyama, who is averaging 24 points and 11.1 rebounds per game this season, truly wins the Spurs their first title since 2014, he will become a legend in San Antonio. And it is a given that he’ll also become the face of the league, as Jokic predicted.

Not that the 31-year-old Jokic is going anywhere any time soon, either. He’s still in his prime, and the Nuggets, despite being 6th in the West, would be gunning to have another crack at the ring the Serbian helped them win in 2023.