With his outstanding performances in the French league and Metropolitans 92-G League Ignite games in the United States, Victor Wembanyama has been called the next big thing.
The 19-year-old habitually puts on a show, averaging an LNB-best 22.2 points, a league-best 9.5 rebounds, and a record-breaking 3.1 blocks per game.
Charles Barkley, a former NBA star who is not on the hype train with Wembanyama, seems to think it is not enough. Chuck is skeptical that the French unicorn will be able to establish himself as an NBA star player from the start, much as LeBron James or Michael Jordon did.
“Everybody wants this kid and he looks like he’s great, but you really can’t tell until he gets to the NBA,” Barkley said on Inside the NBA, co-hosted by him, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson.
As Kenny praised Wembanyama for his shooting and dribbling skills, Barkley continued his rant.
“I don’t agree with all that, I think it’s going to be a huge adjustment. The physicality… I think it’s more physical than him playing against the Czech Republic,” Barkley referred to the last FIBA World Cup where Wembanyama led France to Qualifiers game with an amazing stat line of 22 points, 17 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 steals, 6 blocks, and 34 EFF.
“Listen, I been in the NBA for 40 years and I ain’t seen but one guy, one guy who didn’t go to college, who came in and who was ready, and that’s LeBron. Kobe was great, he struggled early. Kevin Garnett was great, he struggled early,” Chuck pointed out.
Chuck also insisted that it’s not easy to be a legend like LeBron or Jordan. Many players come and go but a few of them touches the epitome of success and sustain long enough to be called GOAT. “I don’t know the answer to that,” Barkley responded and then talked about the number of players who were compared to Michael Jordan and did not live up to it.
Barkley continued, “He is the next this, he is the next that. Like, how many people did Michael Jordan kill? We’ve been for the last 40 years like, ‘Well, he is the next Michael Jordan.’ And we never had another one. We killed like Howard Miner, Roy Marble, like all these guys.”
Charles Barkley on Victor Wembanyama:
“I can’t sit here now just because he is killing people over in the Czech Republic that he is going to come over here and dominate. I just don’t believe it.”
(via @NBAonTNT) pic.twitter.com/y2YxtcCb95
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) February 26, 2023
“I want to see the kid [Wembanyama] play, I hope he is great. I can’t sit now here just because he is killing people over in the Czech Republic that he is going to come over here and dominate. I just don’t believe,” Barkley emphasized.
What’s your opinion on the French young man? Unlike Barkley, do you believe he will be the next big thing in NBA? Share your opinion with us in the comment.
