When the San Antonio Spurs won the 2023 NBA Draft Lottery, the reaction around the league was instant. They landed a new phenom with an underrated basketball IQ, elite passing skills, and an unstoppable blend of offense and defense reminiscent of Kevin Garnett. Two seasons in, Victor Wembanyama has already developed into a legitimate playmaker, even without the direct mentorship of Gregg Popovich or Chris Paul. That was enough for some to declare him LeBron James’ eventual successor as the face of the NBA. But Bron’s agent believes there’s still some work to be done.

Rich Paul wasn’t speaking defensively about his client’s legacy during his appearance on Game Over. Instead, the discussion centered on how certain European superstars evolved into elite playmakers over time.

The super agent pointed to Giannis Antetokounmpo’s rise from a phenomenal talent into an improved playmaker, a shift that turned the Bucks into a championship team. “He [Giannis] got better with his playmaking,” Paul said. Some would say Wemby is on the same trajectory, but Paul claims, “Wemby is the type of guy… I watch it, but I’m 50/50 on this.”

The hesitation, Paul explained, stems from not yet seeing Wembanyama’s shooting efficiency at its fullest. The center is tall enough to be an effortless lower-post presence. He’s grown a couple of inches since entering the league as a teenager with an eight-foot wingspan. Rich Paul feels that makes the game a little easier for him. And when he rolls to the rim, defenses often become irrelevant, as he can finish possessions with ease.

Wemby has leveraged his size and passing to facilitate the offense incredibly while studying elements of Jamal Crawford’s creativity, Kevin Garnett’s intensity, and Hakeem Olajuwon’s footwork. Before the episode dropped, the looming question was whether the DPOY frontrunner could slow down the Oklahoma City Thunder, the team with the league’s highest defensive rating. Paul believes that the answer is yes.

“There is no answer for Wemby. Let’s just be clear… If Wemby decides that he’s going to play efficient basketball every night, there is no [answer].” His co-host, Max Kellerman, asked if he’s referring to the upcoming NBA Cup semifinals between the Spurs and OKC. Paul clarified he meant the entire league.

“If Wemby decides that this is how he going to play, the league is in trouble.” Those are strong words from someone who still claims to be 50–50 on the 21-year-old’s playmaking ceiling.

Victor Wembanyama begins to prove Rich Paul right

Fans were expecting to see the full extent of Victor Wembanyama’s playmaking skills soon. Coming into this season, he was averaging 5.0 assists per game. Before a calf strain sidelined him, he was still averaging an impressive 3.8 assists per game. After a steady return to practice, he was cleared to return for the NBA Cup semifinals.

The Spurs have two different offensive strategies, with and without Wemby. But his teammates had high expectations for his return as he continues to increase his assists and diminish his turnover rate. Fans lowered their expectations, much like Paul, expecting he’d be on restricted minutes.

Then Wemby came off the bench against OKC, stayed on the floor for 20 minutes, scored 22 points with nine rebounds and two assists, shooting 6-of-11 from the field and 9-of-12 from the free-throw line. He didn’t just lead the Spurs to a 111-109 win; he ended OKC’s winning streak by handing them their second loss of the season.

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The Spurs are now favored against the Knicks in the NBA Cup Finals. Josh Hart is already worried about Wemby’s shooting since he was there when he scorched New York with 42 points last season. But the Spurs have yet to decide if they should let the center come off the bench for the finals at the risk of injury.

The best part is that Wemby has the same opinion as Rich Paul. He has made it clear he wants to grow as a playmaker, and teammates have testified that he’s putting in the work to improve his passing. The NBA Cup Finals may be the stage that finally forces Rich Paul to move off his 50–50 stance.