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"It's all worth it" - Victor Wembanyama on why he refused to be a traditional center
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- "It's all worth it" - Victor Wembanyama on why he refused to be a traditional center
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San Antonio Spurs star center Victor Wembanyama disrupted the NBA when he entered the league in 2023. Standing at 7'3" back then with an 8-foot wingspan, he possessed a supernatural height and length that enabled him not only to dominate on defense but also to fuel the offense, as evidenced by his shooting and ball-handling skills, which were uncommon for a player of his size.
As expected, some coaches, media figures, old heads and fans didn't always agree with how he approached the game. Wembanyama has been criticized many times for operating like a guard instead of living inside the post as a traditional back-to-the-basket center.
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However, since his rookie season, the French star has known his identity on the court and what he needs to do to help his team win. This, he said during his first media availability for the Spurs in 2023, can only happen if he is not put in a box .
After his first All-Star season with averages of 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds and 3.7 blocks, Wembanyama has no plans of stepping out of that box.
"One of the things I'm most proud of doing in my career is staying strong and keep doing that because it builds a foundation," he said on the latest episode of Cold As Balls. "If I didn't do this for 15 years, I wouldn't be playing the way I am today. It's all worth it."
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Wemby has flashes of KD's game
Wembanyama is not the first big man to pioneer this do-it-all package. He has Kevin Durant to thank for that.
The Houston Rockets forward has been dominating the league with his killer crossovers and lethal three-level scoring, made even unguardable by his 6'11" height. His deep bag made him one of the most talented scorers the league has ever seen, as he holds the eight spot in the all-time scoring list with 30,571 points.
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Durant was the perfect blueprint for Victor, who admitted getting inspiration from the two-time champion's game and trying to emulate him on offense .
The only difference with Wemby is that he's taking the Durant archetype to the extreme. Now listed at 7'4" in the team's updated roster, he is currently the tallest active player in the NBA today. Some people are even doubting his actual height, with people like Bill Simmons accusing the Spurs of lying about it .
Now, even Durant could not figure out how to guard the on-court nightmare he helped create.
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The Alien is expanding his arsenal
As he enters his third season, Wembanyama will keep playing his game. If anything, based on his preseason outings, it seems that he is expanding his offensive arsenal, now embracing a wing/point-center role with improved playmaking skills and increased strength.
In the preseason, this elevated playmaking is on full display. Past seasons saw Wemby settling for outside shots and asking for lobs. Now, he looks to create the best scoring opportunities for his teammates.
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Through four games, he also showed off his added muscle. He's gone from weighing 210 pounds in his rookie year to weighing 235 pounds after his offseason, which he will now use to bully his defenders inside the paint.
What makes Wembanyama great is that he plays like the Alien that he is. His game has put him on track to become the face of the NBA at only 21 years old.
All this wouldn't have been possible had he caved in to outside noise and allowed himself to be trapped in a box. Now, looking back, Wembanyama has no regrets.
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This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Oct 15, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
