When we think of the San Antonio Spurs’ history of big men, Tim Duncan and David Robinson immediately come to mind. Their dominance inside the paint was a sight to behold. But just 2 years into his NBA career, Victor Wembanyama has proved he belongs in those conversations too.
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In fact, Spurs legend Sean Elliott is of the opinion that Wembanyamas has the potential to be a better player than Duncan and Robinson ever were! He spoke about Wemby’s multifaceted game, from his offensive arsenal to defensive diversity on Run It Back.
But he didn’t want to compare the three big men, as he claimed the comparison wouldn’t be a fair one. Elliott stressed that Wemby’s sheer talent sets him apart from the other legends that came before him.
“I don’t think you can compare Wemby to them,” he said. “He’s a completely different animal than them. He has the same mindset but a different toolbox. His length and his skill, he has a little bit of both of them and more.”
Victor Wembanyama can be better than Tim Duncan and David Robinson 🤯
"I don't think you can compare Wemby to them. He's a completely different animal than them. He has the same mindset but a different toolbox." – @seanelliott_32@MichelleDBeadle | @ChandlerParsons | @TeamLou23 pic.twitter.com/m7S6y1jHGv
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) February 21, 2025
Elliot shared the court with both Duncan and Robinson in their primes, so it’s clear that he’s not making this statement lightly. He was a crucial member of the Spurs’ 1999 championship roster and got to see Duncan and Robinson up close. Regardless, he claims it is impossible to compare Wembanyama to those two.
His reasoning is due to the one-time All-Star’s completely different playstyle.
Duncan and Robinson played with their back to the basket. Wembanyama on the other hand, is a perimeter-oriented player. His offensive skillset is much more diverse than the likes of his predecessors. This led Elliot to subtly claim that Wemby is better than both of them.
Breaking down Elliot’s claim on Victor Wembanyama
At the end of Elliot’s quote, he claimed Wembanyama has a little bit of Duncan and Robinson’s play style and more. In essence, he isn’t lying. Wembanyama can do things that Duncan and Robinson weren’t able to on the offensive end.
The Spurs are still developing Wembanyama. One of their focal points is his three-point shot, which he has thrived in. He is currently shooting 35.2% from three-point range on 8.8 attempts per game. His overall statistics are eye-watering, as he is averaging 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 3.8 blocks per game.
Unfortunately, Wemby will miss the remainder of the season due to a deep vein thrombosis. As a result, despite being the clear frontrunner, he will be ineligible to win the Defensive Player of the Year award.
The only way Victor Wembanyama can outshine Duncan and Robinson is by team success. Duncan won five championships, while Robinson won only two. He is on pace to exceed them statistically, leaving the only other area to beat them in being hardware. The 21-year-old has plenty of time in his career to make that happen.
