Why Victor Wembanyama is in a Class By Himself

This week, one of the NBA’s youngest teams is squaring off against the New York Knicks in the Finals. And there is one big reason why.

Victor Wembanyama has completely broken the San Antonio Spurs’ timeline. Take Wemby off this roster, and they’re likely fighting for a play-in spot instead of competing for a Larry O’Brien trophy—he is that cheat-code significant.

So, let’s break down the tape. In a league already stuffed with elite big men, how does Wemby manage to dominate so well that the entire basketball world is convinced he literally emerged from outer space?

Past Big Men

The NBA has always had a thing for tall men. For every all-time great like Shaquille O’Neal and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, there are dozens of highly touted big men who arrived carrying enormous expectations, and left without fulfilling them.

Some were derailed by injuries. Greg Oden looked like a future franchise player before knee injuries ended his career. Others simply could not keep up as the game changed, like Roy Hibbert. He was an All-Star and one of the league’s most feared rim protectors, but the NBA’s shift toward speed, spacing and versatility quickly made his style of play obsolete.

I can go on. Yao Ming’s legendary ceiling was cut short by foot injuries; Ralph Sampson’s electric start was interrupted by health issues; and Kristaps Porziņģis—literally dubbed ‘The Unicorn’ for his unprecedented skillset—battled injuries and inconsistency. These are all big men who people thought were the next best thing, but failed to live up to the hype.

So what is it about this towering French guy? Well, to answer that I’m going to have to get a bit nerdy. But stick with me—I’m going somewhere.

The Alien

Let me just state the obvious: this croissant-eating brother is tall.

Standing 7-foot-4 with a staggering 8-foot wingspan, his measurements reads like something from a sci-fi movie than an actual human being. But the NBA has seen massive humans before—just look at giants like Manute Bol or Gheorghe Mureșan, who both towered at 7-foot-7. What separates Wemby from the rest is how he uses that size.

This season, Wemby knocked down more than 140 three-pointers while still leading the league in blocks. Most elite rim protectors live near the basket. Most volume three-point shooters live on the perimeter. Wemby does both.

Still with me? OK. One last thing. The advanced numbers are even crazier.

Opponents shot dramatically worse at the rim when he was their primary defender, and the Spurs’ defensive rating improved significantly when he was on the floor. In other words, he is not just collecting highlights. He is fundamentally changing the way opposing teams play the game.

That is why the Spurs beat the Oklahoma City Thunder. That is why Stephen A. Smith and Michael Wilbon call Wemby an alien.

Victor Wembanyama is not a star. He has entered Michael Jordan and Steph Curry territory. He is a phenomenon.

The NBA Finals kicks off on June 3 at 8:30 p.m on ABC.