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USA Today via Reuters

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USA Today via Reuters

In December last year, Victor Wembanyama became the youngest player to achieve 20 points and 20 rebounds in a game. He surpassed none other than Dwight Howard. “Broke my record! This guy is already great! Love to see it,” the ex-Lakers star had shared. By the time the season ended, Wemby had broken more records and earned the ROTY title. But his recent chess activity caught the world’s attention with people sending in challenges.

Terrell Owens holding Dude Wipes XL

DH-12 wasn’t far behind, but in a hilarious behind-the-scenes clip, he trolls the Spurs star’s potential opponent.

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We got to get Wemby to come to the Philippines 🇵🇭 & play @mannypacquiao to see if he’s a real Chess player 🧐 comment a 🇵🇭 if you want to see Wemby face off with Pacquiao ⬇️,” the former NBA Champion captioned a video he uploaded on IG that showed him with boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, playing a game of chess.

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The clip cuts to the only eight-division world champion saying, “Wembanyama is really big.” The French Phenom is 7 feet 2 inches tall, and Dwight Howard wasted no time trolling Pacquiao while praising Wemby.

Oh, my God! He is so tall. He’s three of you!” Pacquiao rolled his eyes at that while the entire room started laughing. But Dwight Howard wasn’t done yet.

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Maybe 5,” he repeated thrice. The ‘PacMan’ stands at 5 feet 5 inches, so the joke is unrealistic. That’s why the boxing legend rolled his eyes over. But it’s not the only time the 3x DPOY challenged Wembanyama.

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Even on X, he sent a challenge: “Wemby, I got next, then you gotta play Pac-Man 🤣🥊♟️.

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It all started when the 20-year-old, after his domination against the Nets, issued a challenge: “Who wants to meet me at the SW corner of Washington Square Park to play chess? I’m there.” He played for an hour, and even the rain couldn’t wither away his hopes, as he ended with a 2-2 record.

Not the first time Dwight Howard sent a scathing challenge to the Spurs star

Being a former center, the former champion has praised Wembanyama multiple times; even claimed that with age on Wemby’s side, he could become a “top 5” player of all time. Yes, a place alongside Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and a few others that have received that praise.

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But still, that didn’t stop Dwight Howard from tooting his own horn. “I’m busting Wemby up in the paint. What are you talking about? He is an alien, though. I will say that.

During the conversation on the OG’s podcast, Howard also stated, “I would hit him in the chest. Make his shoulders clap, game is over with after that. All it took is two times. I’m telling you boom boom boom! and he’s going to the ground and then I got to deal with Pops.”

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Howard seems to be moving away from the NBA team, as his recent interview suggests he wants more family time. But never say never! Even if not on the hardwood, through Wemby’s suggestion about a chess tournament of NBA players, fans could get a glimpse of this matchup.

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Pranav Kotai

2,641 Articles

Pranav Kotai is an editor at EssentiallySports, specializing in basketball coverage with a focus on trade dynamics and front-office decision-making. Having previously worked on the Trade Desk vertical, he brought clarity to how salary cap pressures and roster needs shape NBA transactions. His insightful coverage of the Philadelphia 76ers’ decision to hold firm on Joel Embiid amid trade speculation highlights how market context and team strategy influence major roster moves. Before joining EssentiallySports, Pranav holds experience of skills in professional writing, editorial work, and digital content creation. He holds a postgraduate diploma in digital media from a reputed institute, where he mastered the tools to create engaging and credible content across various platforms. Known for his attention to detail, proficiency in storytelling, and editorial expertise, Pranav combines deep basketball knowledge with sharp analytical abilities to deliver clear, insightful perspectives on the complexities of NBA trades and team management.

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Geisha Pulimoottil Don

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