Victor Wembanyama’s entry into the NBA has garnered global attention. Even though the young star hasn’t laced up for an official NBA game, speculations regarding his potential haven’t been braced. Till now, Wembanyama has only appeared in 2 summer league games. Even though the 19-year-old took some time establishing his ground in game 1, his game 2 performance was quite promising. He managed to drop 27 points 12-rebounds in a double-double with 3 blocks. It was enough for the Spurs to understand their expectations from the star, and fans got what they wanted.

Ahead of Wemby’s two games, San Antonio Spurs chose to rest him out from summer league games. They want him well-rested for the training camp in early October, followed by the NBA season. As everyone waits for the day, Giannis Antetokounmpo has high praise for Victor, while there are successful others with a different take.

NBA legend says Victor Wembanyama can’t even match Yao Ming

In the two games, Victor posted an impressive stat line of 36 points, 20 rebounds, eight blocks, and three assists on 41% shooting from the floor. Despite these outstanding performances, the rookie’s future potential has come under scrutiny by a former NBA center.

Olden Polynice, a former Seattle SuperSonics lottery pick, has expressed his doubts about Victor’s ability to become the generational player. On The Odd Couples podcast on Fox Sports, Polynice voiced his opinion. “He hopes to be better than Shawn Bradley, in my opinion,” he said, based on their similar builds. The assessment seemed to lack enthusiasm as he did not place Wembanyama above players like Yao Ming. “I’m not even putting him in the Yao Ming category right now.” he added.

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Co-hosts Martin Weiss and Chris Broussard expressed their surprise, offering pushback against Polynice’s comments. Of course, Wemby’s likeness to Chet Holmgren, Bol Bol, and Ralph Sampson is acknowledged; Polynice’s comparison to Shawn Bradley seems to miss by a wide margin.

Olden Polynice had a nearly 18-year-long career in the NBA. He played as a Center for several teams like Sonics, Sacramento Kings, and others. He was known for his rebounding prowess and defensive abilities. Within his tenure in the NBA, he averaged 7.8 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.

Speculating Polynice’s theory

Olden’s theory for Wembanyama raised some eyeballs. Shawn Bradley was a 7’6 German big man who failed to meet fans’ expectations. He was the second overall pick in the 1993 NBA Draft. Bradley began his career with the Philadelphia 76ers, scoring 10 points per game initially, but couldn’t sustain that level of performance. By the time he left the league in 2005, Bradley’s averages had dwindled to just 2.7 points and 2.8 rebounds per game while playing only 11.5 minutes on the floor.

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On the other hand, Yao Ming is considered a legend. At the 2002 NBA Draft, Yao made history by becoming the first international player ever selected with the No.1 overall pick. Over his nine-year career with the Rockets, the 7 ft 6 center earned 8 All-Star selections and 2 All-NBA Second Team honors. He maintained averages of 19 points, 9 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game. Additionally, Yao achieved three gold medals at the FIBA Asia Cup. In honor of his service, the Houston Rockets retired his No. 11 jersey for his exceptional contributions to the team.

Expectations suggest that Wembanyama’s generational talent will surpass Yao Ming’s accolades. The 7’5 center can not only tower over guards like Yao Ming, but he can shoot with a Kevin Durant-like efficiency. Additionally, He has enough skills to initiate an ISO situation to create his shots from the midrange. Moreover, his on-ball control is extremely new for a player of his height.

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Overall, it appears that Polynice’s assessment has sparked a lively debate. Comparing numbers and skills can provide insights, but nothing can be said for certain about Victor Wembanyama’s ceiling. From what it looks like, he has all the opportunities to create his legacy, and he is excited to step on the NBA hardwood.