Los Angeles Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue has had a front-row seat to some of the NBA’s greatest talents, from coaching LeBron James to playing alongside Michael Jordan. Now, he’s added a new name to the list: San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama.
Lue recently praised the 7’4″ phenom, calling him a “super talent”. His remarks came after observing Wembanyama’s impressive performance in the Olympics, where the young star tallied 26 points and 7 rebounds against Team USA.
“He’s a super talent,” Lue said, via Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson. “A guy that big that can handle the basketball, shoot 3’s, midrange pull-ups, post-ups, block shots, rebounds, pushing the ball off the rebound? We’ve never seen a player like this before.”
Wembanyama’s skillset has generated significant buzz in the basketball world. Lue emphasized that the Frenchman’s versatility, especially for a player of his size, is unparalleled. “We’ve never seen a player like this before,” Lue reiterated, marveling at Wembanyama’s ability to impact every facet of the game.
Wembanyama’s talent doesn’t end with his physical tools. Lue also pointed to his mentality and leadership qualities. “The biggest thing is that just seeing him from last year is that he wants to win and he’s happy for other guys’ success,” Lue explained. “When his guys get it going, he’s definitely the one supporting and so, when your best player’s like that, it brings the team up tremendously.”
Lue believes Wembanyama’s role will only continue to expand as he matures in the league. With his defensive prowess already on full display, the 20-year-old’s offensive game is catching up quickly. Lue noted that Wembanyama is becoming more adept at finding his shots and improving his teammates’ performances as well.
“He’s understanding how to play and where to get his shots from, but also making guys better as well,” Lue added. This suggests that, in addition to his individual talent, Wembanyama’s presence on the court elevates the performance of the entire Spurs roster.
As of now, the San Antonio Spurs sit at 4-5 in the NBA’s Western Conference after defeating the Portland Trail Blazers, with Wembanyama averaging 18.2 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.7 blocks, and 2.7 assists per game.
