Philadelphia 76ers forward Nicolas Batum recently shared effusive praise for San Antonio Spurs’ rising star, Victor Wembanyama, in an exclusive interview with Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson.

Reflecting on Wembanyama’s playing style, Batum expressed his amazement, stating, “I really can’t choose one player but we can see some AD [Anthony Davis], we can see some [Kristaps] Porzingis and can see a little bit of Giannis [Antetokounmpo] so sometimes we can see a little bit of a couple of players.”

Batum, a seasoned NBA player known for his defensive prowess, sees Wembanyama surpassing expectations on that end.

“I think that he’s going to be a better version of Porzingis. When I first saw him? He actually took pride in playing defense and I’m pretty sure that he’s like, Rudy [Gobert] is a great defender but I want to be BETTER than Rudy because he’s more versatile on defense.”

The veteran forward emphasized that while Wembanyama draws comparisons to established stars, “He has all the potential to be great to what he wants to be but, at the end he’s going to be his own version of himself and that’s special.”

This season, the 19-year-old rookie is making a significant impact, averaging 19.2 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 30.1 minutes per game.

As Wembanyama continues to develop, Batum’s insightful comments offer a glimpse into the promising future of this young talent.