NBA Hall of Famer George Gervin recently shared his admiration for San Antonio Spurs’ rookie standout, Victor Wembanyama, during an interview with Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson while discussing his book, “Ice: Why I Was Born To Score.”
Gervin expressed his positive impressions of Wembanyama, emphasizing the rookie’s basketball prowess. According to Gervin, “He can play, man… he knows how to play.
“People have asked me, Have you met Victor? And I say, ‘Naw. He’s never met me!…’ [laughing] He ain’t done nothing yet, you know what I’m sayin’? So I just do that in respect. It’s like meeting your elders.”
Despite not having personally met Wembanyama, Gervin acknowledged the rookie’s skills and highlighted his ability to shoot the ball.
Gervin drew comparisons to other tall players like Bol Bol but noted Wembanyama’s unique qualities. Standing at 7’4″, Wembanyama exhibits skills rarely seen in players of his size, showcasing the ability to handle the ball, shoot three-pointers, and run the court.
“But no, I like what I see. He has the ability. He knows how to play, he can SHOOT the ball… I mean he’s 7’4” and he can do things that a 7’4” – 7’5” guy that we haven’t seen before other than Bol Bol,” he continued.
Gervin praised Wembanyama’s potential for growth under the leadership in San Antonio, emphasizing the importance of mentorship in a player’s development.
“I mean, you gotta mention Bol Bol whether they want to or not because he’s the same size and he can handle the ball, he can shoot the three, he can run and so I’m proud that he’s here in San Antonio,” Gervin said.
“I think that he gets a better chance to progress under this kind of leadership, you know? It always helps to have somebody that’s going to give you a chance to figure out who you are in this league that he’s playing in. So I think that’s an advantage for him.”
When asked if he had seen a player with Wembanyama’s unique combination of attributes, Gervin responded, “Not at HIS size!”
He marveled at Wembanyama’s basketball IQ, emphasizing the advantage of not just possessing skills but also understanding how to play the game strategically.
Gervin believes that Wembanyama’s ability to think and play simultaneously sets him apart and contributes to his potential to reach unprecedented levels in the league.
“Knowing how to play, you know? I think THAT’S an advantage, you know? Because you can have all those skills all you want but if you don’t know how to think and play… and I think that’s what separates guys I feel,” he said.
“If you can think AND play at the same time versus just play…? You can see the separation and he can think and play and I think for him potential-wise that can take him to a level that he didn’t even realize that he can get to.”
In the current season, Wembanyama has been making waves, averaging 18.9 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.1 blocks, and 2.9 assists in 29.4 minutes per game.
As the leading rookie in both scoring and rebounding, Wembanyama continues to draw attention for his exceptional skills and basketball intelligence.
