There was a time each position in basketball had a designated assignment. The guards stuck to being offense generators. Forwards usually were the two-way beasts and the centers were to park in the paint, score, and block anything that came within their coverage. But this was long before basketball transitioned into an era of unusual freaks and the birth of floor spacing. Today the game is free-flowing, with each position able to substitute the impact of another. The blueprint was set by the superstars NBA fans all love and admire – the likes of Stephen Curry, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and more.

Yet the embodiment came this season when a 7’4″ giant broke through the matrix. I am of course talking about the French phenom, Victor Wembanyama. His body metrics alone would give an impression of him being a traditional center. That purported notion was buried forever when a 16-year-old Wembanyama embarrassed a fellow French big man Rudy Gobert – who at the time was a three-time NBA DPOY.

Since then the craze catapulted and all the attention went to this wiry teenager. Touted as the greatest prospect since the King, even James couldn’t help with watch in awe. An “alien” is what he termed Wemby. The towering 19-year-old is now in the NBA, leaving fans’ jaws on the floor with his otherworldly abilities. For the majority, what he does is mind-boggling. However, one man seems immune to the gifts of Wembanyma, suggesting he isn’t the first of his archetype.

Shaquille O’Neal names Bol Bol as the NBA’s first Victor Wembanyama

It was a night against the Phoenix Suns that Wembanyama dazzled another NBA legend in Reggie Miller. In his 18-point performance, the French big man came up clutch scoring a put-back dunk to cut the lead to a single point before his teammate Kelvin Johnson stole the ball from Kevin Durant to score the winning basket. From just a single look at the play, it was palpably obvious, that there was no Sun who could do anything to prevent Wemby from getting to his spot. Just from that mismatch alone, he was unstoppable.

Miller was dumbstruck from the very moment he saw him. Yet, Shaq was upset with the Indiana Pacers legend’s expressive take. “I want to go at Reggie a little bit. He talks about he’s never seen a guy like Wembanyama. Yes you have, his name is Bol Bol.” 

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The one statement left the NBA world dumbfounded. They wondered just how is Shaq comparing the most acclaimed modern-day prospect, a French league MVP at 18 to another 7-footer who isn’t even making the rotation for the Phoenix Suns. For those not aware, Bol does host some similarities to Wemby. He is a 7’2″ agile player who can handle the ball and shoot the rock from deep.

But does he come close to Wembanyama?

Is Bol Bol worthy of Shaq’s claim?

So far Wembanyama has outshined his young rivals when it comes to a head-on battle. We saw it against the Rockets when he completely annihilated Jabari Smith Jr.  From the measurements alone, a contest of Bol Bol against Wembanyama would be a sight NBA fans would have gawked at. Even then, Bol is struggling to find his place. But it isn’t that he hasn’t proved his worth.

From the lineage of the legendary big man Manute Bol, his 23-year-old son has taken over his legacy. He was a collegiate star at Oregon. Despite falling to the second round in 2019, nobody could deny Bol Bol as a freak. For the first three years, he spent his time under the shadow of Nikola Jokic, who along with Jamal Murray had breakout campaigns. It didn’t give him the space to develop and polish his talent. Then when traded to the Orlando Magic, the NBA saw flashes of what he could be.

A 7-foot mutant who could shoot the ball and block shots from anywhere on the court. Additionally, for his size, Bol is unusually quick on his feet. He is comfortable with the ball in his hand, and his jump shot is nearly unguardable. Just have a look at this way when he rose over a Nets defender without breaking a sweat to knock down a three.

So he has the tools that made Wembanyama an anomaly in basketball. However, there have been certain reservations with the Suns’ newest addition. There is a general belief that Bol Bol isn’t as committed to his craft and isn’t able to augment his natural gifts. On the other hand, Victor Wembanyama is completely different. The French star missed his international summer and immersed himself in the gym working out with the San Antonio Spurs. He approaches the game with vigor, his passion leaks out in each of his plays. When you look at Wembanyama, one can clearly conclude he loves the game of basketball.

Kevin Durant Puts Victor Wembanyama Comparisons to Bed After 2nd Straight Loss: “Don’t See Anybody”

In Bol’s case, it isn’t necessarily like that. So in the end, who is better from the two?

One game elevates Wembanyama levels above Bol Bol

The league finally witnessed the entire potential, a preview of what to expect from Victor Wembanyama. In a rematch against the Suns – this time with Devin Booker, the Spurs were meant to be dogged and trampled. However, the ones who got squashed were the KD-Booker tandem, all because of a Wembanyama explosion.

After looking unsettled and estranged for the first few games, Wembanayma unlocked his lethal version that shook the basketball core in the first place. He burned Phoenix for 38 points, the highlight play being him walking down the court and knocking down a three over 6’10” Drew Eubanks. It was the first time Wembanyama looked figuratively unstoppable. He was unflappable in the face of defenders and ran to the rim without the fear of getting his shots swiped.

On the defensive end, he continued his blocking extravaganza accumulating 4. It was his enshrining moment. In that spell, Wembanyama was the biggest star on the court. He flaunted his entire arsenal and the Suns looked like children trying to guard him. This is a guy who can be a cornerstone to a franchise, a transcending talent that will be the first of his kind – maybe the only one.

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Wembanyama is the face of the new generation to come, a group not limited by size and with infinite potential to master every facet of basketball. Unfortunately, while Bol Bol reflects shades of what he can be, he isn’t that yet. Hence, as of now, there is no place for dispute. Victor Wembanyama is the better player.