Victor Wembanyama entered the league with unmatched hype, and the rookie has not only lived up to the considerable fanfare but has also shown resilience and maturity unheard of in a 20-year-old. This dedication to the game has also translated into his on-court performance. Just in his first year, he is already on pace to join only nine other players, who, by the way, are all Hall of Famers, to rack up a 20-10-3 (points-rebounds-blocks) stat line per game, last done by Shaquille O’Neal in 1999-2000.

With his 7-foot-4 frame and otherworldly skillset, he has taken the league by storm. Even though the San Antonio Spurs are mired at the bottom of the Western Conference, Wemby’s individual performances have generated rave reviews from even the legends of the game. Kevin Durant is no different. However, could Wemby’s emergence have pushed him into considering retirement?

In a recent press conference at All-Star Weekend, Kevin Durant gushed about the Frenchman’s ceiling, “He can achieve anything he wants in this game. I think he’ll only get more comfortable as time goes on… It’s insane how dominant he is gonna be as he gets more comfortable in the game.” But then we went on to make a shocking revelation, as he stated, “Luckily, I’m on my way out, so I won’t have to deal with it too much. You just see him settling in game after game after game. This one will be a joy to watch.”

Durant is under contract with Phoenix through the 2025-26 season. He has even expressed his desire to win a championship with the Suns. In fact, he’s made it clear that he won’t hang up his jersey until his body gives up. “I want to play until I can’t no more, man. A title is incredible, but what it’s going to mean to me as an individual? I want to win a title for a city, for my teammates, for the organization,” said KD in an interview with The Ringer‘s Logan Murdock. Therefore, retirement does not seem likely in the near future, especially considering he is averaging 28.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 5.7 assists this season.

However, not only did he hint at a potential exit from the league, but he also name-dropped superstars that he would pass the torch to.

Who are the NBA’s next-gen superstars?

With the greatest players in the league entering the twilight of their careers, there have been a lot of discussions about the next faces of the league. According to KD, each era is defined by five to six players who revolutionize the game and inspire the next-gen stars to be professionals. “I think each era has five, six, seven guys that help carry the game forward, push the game forward…I look around the league, and you see Shai, Ant, Book, Luka, Tyrese Maxey, Tyrese Haliburton,” said the 35-year-old.

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However, he went on to explain that numerous players serve as inspirations for the next generation of basketball players, making it unfair to single out just a few. He then outlined the criteria that qualify a player as an era-defining superstar, stating, “It’s about pushing the game forward, setting a different standard, and how we play. And these guys are doing it right now.”

Do you think Kevin Durant’s remarks were just in good humor, or was he actually hinting at his retirement plans?

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