Spurs fans aren't the only ones recognizing the absurd talent that resides in San Antonio. The stars are aligning for Victor Wembanyama to not only become one of the best players in the NBA but also the future face of the league, and people are starting to recognize this.
And not just anyone—former NBA defensive juggernaut Joakim Noah is making a gargantuan statement. On a recent episode of the Run It Back podcast, the 2013-14 Defensive Player of the Year crowned his fellow big man the future face of the NBA.
He stated that it will happen within the next two to three years. Of course, he had to follow it up with evidence, and the examples were striking. There is no doubt that Wembanyama is shooting for the head.
Don't forget about Victor Wembanyama's Olympics performance
The biggest confirmation that the Alien is set to become the face of the league came not on an NBA court, but on the grandest stage of them all. If you remember, Wembanyama played for his home country of France in the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.
After carrying his team to the gold medal match, the Frenchman's squad was set to duel the Dream Team-like USA crew. As a heavy underdog, Wembanyama came to play. In front of his friends and family, and with the whole world watching with a keen eye, the big man dominated. Scoring 26 points, Wembanyama gave it his all.
Despite the loss, Wembanyama was heroic. Falling just 11 points behind a team that was full of NBA superstars, the game was an example of the future face of the league's ability to rise to the occasion. Wembanyama is not afraid of the bright lights and has the power to put a team on his back and will them to success.
Victor Wembanyama's intelligence makes him elite
The 2024 Summer Olympics were just one example of Wembanyama's core traits of being the king of basketball. Noah also touched on one of the most underrated aspects of the blossoming star's game that makes him the ideal candidate.
One thing that makes the current faces of the league unique is their exceptional intelligence and incredibly high basketball IQ. LeBron James and Steph Curry are known for the wizardry they display on the court and how they can dictate a basketball game with their minds. In any interview with these players, you can quickly see how deep their basketball knowledge goes. Wembanyama is no different.
Although Wembanyama has otherworldly athletic abilities and size, what makes him so great is how he can use these gifts. Whether it's the timing of his blocks, his cat-like reflexes, or his sense of an NBA defense, Wembanyama is a mastermind. These rare abilities will turn him into a player who will be known for lifetimes.
Still just in his cocoon, Wembanyama will be thrust into the spotlight once the reign of the current stars is finished. There is no doubt in my mind, or Noah's, that the Spurs mega-star will be known across the world in just a few years' time as the poster child of basketball.