Victor Wembanyama is described as a ‘bigger Bill Russell’ by Lakers legend Jerry West – despite the No. 1 Draft pick managing a mere nine points on his debut in the Summer League
NBA great Jerry West has sensationally compared Victor Wembanyama to a famous big man from his era…the legendary Bill Russell, despite the Frenchman struggling in his Summer League debut.
During an interview with Sirius XM NBA Radio on Saturday, West – a one-time NBA champion with the Lakers (’72) – said that Wembanyama, 19, reminds him of a ‘bigger Bill Russell.’
Russell, an 11-time NBA champion before his death last year, measured six inches less than ‘Wemby’, whose height is officially listed at an impressive seven-foot- and-five inches.
The Celtics great, whose No. 6 jersey was retired by the league prior to the start of last season, dominated the league as a center from 1959-1969.
Wembanyama, on the other hand, is more versatile than the basketball Hall of Famer, as he can play in both Russell’s position and as a power forward.
Victor Wembanyama, 19, struggled in his nine-points Summer League debut with the Spurs
West gave Wembanyama the highest praise one could receive by comparing him to Bill Russell
In any case, ‘Wemby’ has a long way to go before he can reach Russell’s status as one of the best big man in league history, following his mere nine-point game for the San Antonio Spurs against the Charlotte Hornets in the Summer League on Friday.
The Spurs’ No. 1 even admitted that he didn’t really know what he was doing at times and has to work on improving his fitness before the start of the new NBA season in October.
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‘As of today, I’m just a rookie,’ Wembanyama said on Saturday – a day after officially donning the famous Spurs’ silver and black jersey for the first time ever. ‘I don’t have one NBA game in me. I just got everything to learn.
‘The truth was, yeah, I didn’t know what I was doing. And for the next games, I’m probably not going to know what I’m doing, too. But it’s going to come as time goes and hopefully we’ll be ready for the season.’
Wembanyama was 2-for-13 shooting, with most of his points coming from the free throw line. The overseas product also registered eight rebounds, five blocked shots and three assists to help San Antonio beat Charlotte.
Wembanyama (L) next to Isiah Thomas and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at the NBA Con on Saturday
He airballed a couple of 3s, got dunked on once, and there were times he knew he was making a mistake.
Worry not, NBA greats Isiah Thomas and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar told him at NBA Con on Sunday. They were rookies once, too.
‘It takes a while. You have things to learn,’ Abdul-Jabbar told ‘Wemby’ on the stage during the 30-minute conversation that Thomas moderated, one of the featured attractions at the inaugural NBA Con, on Saturday.
‘But he’s an intelligent young man. He’ll get it done.’
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