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San Antonio Spurs
Sep 8, 2025 7:43 PM EDT
Victor Wembanyama, the San Antonio Spurs’ newest future hall-of-famer, has had a busy offseason. His instagram features photos of himself getting his head shaved at a monastery, posing in front of a photo of Mao Zedong, and receiving an impassioned lecture from Hall-of-Fame power forward Kevin Garnett.
The newest photo of the young star may have fans the most excited out of all of them, however. Wembanyama was photographed with another hall-of-fame player on Monday: Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon.
This is especially exciting news, as Olajuwan is not only one of the greatest centers of all time, but is considered one of the most skilled players in league history. His footwork and IQ were a thing of beauty, able to create space and manipulate defenders with ease.
Olajuwon already has an elite resume of players he has worked with, featuring Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, and now, Victor Wembanyama.
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The other part of what makes this exciting — or terrifying, if you aren’t a Spurs fan — is what Olajuwon can pass onto Wembanyama as it pertains to his defense.
While Olajuwan’s offensive game was mesmerizing, his defense was even better. His anticipation, instincts, and IQ on that side of the court are arguably the best anyone’s ever seen from the center position, and it now appears he has been imparting some of his knowledge on Wembanyama — someone many expect to take the mantle as the best player in the NBA as early as this season.
Wembanyama is already an exceptional talent on both ends of the court, averaging 24.3 points, 11 rebounds, and 3.8 blocks per game in the 2024 season. Skill isn’t exactly a concern for him either, as he already has an advanced handle and defensive IQ.
However, at just 21 years old, there is still room for growth. If Wembanyama can combine his extraordinary height (7’4″) and reach (7’10″ wingspan) with further development as a defender and improvements in his back-to-the-basket game — an aspect of his offensive skillset that remains underdeveloped relative to the rest — he has a real chance of being considered the best player in the league this upcoming season.
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