Spurs rising star called 'best defensive player in the world right now'

The San Antonio Spurs could be better in 2024-25 than many people expect.

Second-year center Victor Wembanyama is one of the most unique players to ever enter the NBA, and he’s improving at a rapid pace.

The last player the league witnessed have such a dominant impact from such a young age was LeBron James. What most people forget about James’s early years in the league was how he single-handedly transformed the Cleveland Cavaliers into a winner.

The Cavaliers had already turned things around under LeBron by his second year, finishing the 2004-05 season above .500 at 42-40. The following year, James’s third, Cleveland went 50-32 and advanced into the second round of the playoffs.

Generational players tend to turn franchises around much quicker than people anticipate, and Wembanyama is certainly a generational talent.

Wemby’s ceiling is still unknowable (and scary), but it also should be said that even in his current state, Wembanyama is among the most impactful players in the league, especially on the defensive end.

Former Spurs vice president for strategic research Kirk Goldsberry declared Wembanyama the best defensive basketball player on Earth during The Bill Simmons Podcast on Friday.

“He’s the best defensive player in the world right now, and he’s still growing,” Goldsberry said. “It’s not close. … As we enter year two (of Wembanyama’s career), I think we’re going to see that he’s clearly the most impactful defensive player.”

“(The Spurs) were a top-five defense with him on the court at the end of the season … when he came off the court, they descended right back to that lottery-level defense that we expected from them. … He’s already there.”

The seven-foot-four Wembanyama is still just 20 years old.

The Spurs improved their roster around Wembanyama this past offseason, acquiring a much-needed floor general in Chris Paul and drafting a proven winner and versatile defender in UConn’s Stephon Castle.

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