It feels like forever since San Antonio fans had something real to cheer for in the postseason. The last time the Spurs made the playoffs was in the 2018–19 season, a run that ended early with a first-round exit. Go back a little further, and you’ll find their last real push in 2016–17 under Kawhi Leonard. Since then, it’s been years of rebuilding and “maybe next season.” But suddenly, this season, they are sitting on a sparkling 5–1 record and holding the second spot in the West. The reason? A 7-foot-5 game-changer named Victor Wembanyama. And according to Carmelo Anthony, the only way to stop this monster is to become one.

On his podcast 7PM in Brooklyn, Carmelo Anthony broke down how he’d try to handle Victor Wembanyama if he ever had to guard him. He said, “It’s easier said than done, man. I’d probably just be super aggressive, super physical with Wemby.”

Anthony added, “Super physical when he got the ball or when he’s setting a pick or running around. I’m telling my guys, you know, if he comes through this paint, we cracking him… I’m telling my power forwards, I’m telling my big men like, ‘Yo, listen. We going to f— him out tonight. We going to make him work. That’s what we got to do. We going to make him earn this 30, 15, 12, six, and five. Like we going to make him earn this.’”

He admitted, though, that even with all that effort, stopping Wemby wouldn’t come easy, “He could shoot over you. He can do whatever he wants to. He actually knows how to play the game, right?”

Victor Wembanyama’s second year was already something special: 24.3 points, 11 rebounds, nearly four assists, and a league-leading 3.8 blocks per game. But for the young French phenom, he wasn’t satisfied with flashes of brilliance; he wanted dominance.

So, he spent the offseason learning straight from the greats, Kevin Garnett and Hakeem Olajuwon, polishing every move, every counter, every instinct, and becoming the ultimate offensive weapon. Now, the results are showing. 

After leading the Spurs to a fiery 5–0 start, Wemby didn’t mince words: “It’s not random. We didn’t get those five wins randomly. We worked for it.” True to his word, he’s been putting up monster numbers. At the time, he was averaging 30.2 points per game (ninth in the NBA) and 14.6 rebounds (first), all while shooting a career-best 56.3% from the field.

Even before the new season tipped off, the hype around the “Alien” had already reached a fever pitch. ESPN ran a poll with 20 coaches, scouts, and executives, asking one simple question: Who will be the best player in the NBA by 2030? The answer was almost unanimous. Sixteen out of twenty went with the 7-foot-4 sensation from San Antonio, leaving only a few nods for Luka Dončić, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Jayson Tatum. 

And when opening night rolled around, Wemby wasted no time proving them right. He exploded for 40 points, 15 rebounds, and three blocks in a dominant 125–92 win over the Anthony Davis-led Mavericks. It marked his fifth career game with 40 or more points, including that jaw-dropping 50-point outing last season against the Wizards.

The biggest leap in Wembanyama’s game this year is in how he’s learned to invite contact and make it hurt. He’s now (as per the 5-0 run) averaging 9.6 free throw attempts per game, more than double last season’s 4.1, and scoring nearly four extra points a night just from the line. His efficiency has turned lethal, ranking third in player impact estimate (28.0).

Even Mavericks coach Jason Kidd couldn’t help but marvel, saying, “He can dunk without jumping. He is different.” And with his new lower-body strength kicking in, rivals might want to remember Melo’s strategy.

Carmelo Anthony sees Victor Wembanyama in Giannis Antetokounmpo’s mold

Carmelo Anthony made a rather well-known comparison, likening Victor Wembanyama’s potential to that of Giannis Antetokounmpo.

“I will say we’re seeing a Giannis type of mold with a different skill set. Giannis was small like that when he came in, a skinny, you know, when he came in. Now look at him. We’re seeing that if Wemby starts filling out the way Giannis filled out… He hasn’t really physically built out yet. When he gets to the point where he’s relentless in the weight room, like a mentality like Giannis has, approaching the game, he’s lowkey got that, like physically — you know what I’m saying — physically, when his body actually allows, allows him… shoulders start expanding. It’s over.”

Wembanyama entered the league weighing around 215–220 pounds, but earlier this year, he revealed that his weight had increased to 245 pounds. But he’s being careful, saying, “I gained probably like 30 pounds. I’m in strength training, of course, but the main thing for me is I could, in theory, put on a lot of weight, but I would lose some of my mobility, some of my athleticism. So it’s something that needs to be done really carefully.”

Giannis entered the league as a lanky teenager full of potential, but it was his steady and natural strength development- gaining about five to seven pounds each year- that transformed him into a superstar. This gradual build made him a two-time MVP and a defensive powerhouse, capable of absorbing contact, holding his ground, and even switching like a guard.

Despite still growing into his frame, he’s already making waves in the NBA. In fact, both Wemby and Giannis have been recognized for their early-season dominance: Wemby was named Western Conference Player of the Week, while Giannis earned Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors for Week 1 of the 2025–26 season. Even at this early stage, the comparison between the two superstars feels more than justified.