A season into his career, Victor Wembanyama has exceeded the hype. The talk surrounding the French big man is not just about All-Star appearances; some, like Memphis Grizzlies forward GG Jackson , predict he could be the GOAT when it's all said and done.
Jackson, 2023's best high school prospect, explained his stance on FanDuel TV's Run it Back. In this segment, the South Carolina native revealed why he became a Wemby believer after hating on "The Alien" before.
"This is gonna be very, very biased, but to me, he's gonna be the greatest player to ever play the game in my opinion," declared Jackson.
Jackson revealed that the only time he had seen Wemby play before the NBA was in an AAU competition between his team and a squad coming over from Canada. The NBA's youngest player last season did not reveal many details, but he didn't seem impressed at all by Wembanyama until he saw what the 7'4 "phenom did in the NBA.
"I was a hater"
As he should, the former Gamecock was critical of Wemby's game and thought he was nothing special. But that ill will quickly become admiration when their paths crossed in the Association.
"I was a hater when he came in," Jackson revealed when asked why he thought Wemby could be the GOAT. "I'm like, 'He's not too strong.' But what does he do against bigger bigs? Just blow by 'em. I would say his handle isn't that great and that they gonna poke it. Now, he's doing Shammgods from the three-point line. I say he couldn't shoot that good; fast break transition, pulling up from the three point line."
"So, the only thing that can stop him is himself and how complacent or how complacent he gets or how hungry he is. From the looks of it, those overseas guys, they don't really take things lightly at all, so he's coming for it all," added the 6'9 forward.
The Grizzlies actually won the season series against the Spurs last season (3-1). However, Wembanyama put on an absolute show every time. The 2024 Rookie of the Year had 19 points, 13 rebounds, and eight blocks in their first meeting. In their third matchup, he had 31/16/5 and three blocks and accumulated 18 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and seven blocks in their final game on April 2024.
In just his rookie season, it's safe to say that that's just the tip of the iceberg for Vic.
Sky is the limit
Victor Wembanyama is a quadruple-double threat on a nightly basis. And the scariest part is that he's just scratching the surface of his potential. At 7'4" with guard-like agility and shooting range, Wembanyama has shown he can dominate on both ends of the floor. His rookie season stat line of 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 3.6 blocks is a glimpse into the kind of all-around impact he can have.
As he gains more experience and refines his skills, Wembanyama could become the ultimate matchup nightmare—too tall for wings and too quick for centers. His ability to stretch the floor with his shooting, rim protection, and rebounding is unprecedented, even in the NBA.
That said, players as tall as Wemby historically had their careers cut short by various foot ailments and other health concerns . Yao Ming's left foot and ankle were a mess, leading to his early retirement in 2011. Ralph Sampson and Mark Eaton had back and foot issues, and Gheorghe Muresan, Manute Bol, and Shawn Bradley had to deal with nagging injuries in one form or another.
If Wemby overcomes this potential hurdle, Jackson's GOAT prediction might not be so far-fetched.
Related: "He was doing two-a-days as soon as last season ended" - Shams Charania on Wemby's work ethic
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