Over the past decade, several No. 1 and top draft picks have entered the league surrounded by immense hype, only to struggle once the weight of expectations set in.
That has not been the case for Victor Wembanyama . Despite dealing with injuries in each of his three seasons, he has shown flashes of being the true NBA legend.
Moreover, in the 2025-26 season, he looks determined to lead his San Antonio Spurs back toward their former glory — something which has impressed Dwight Howard so extensively that he labeled the 7'4" phenom as the Kareem Abdul Jabbar of this era.
When Kareem entered the league at the age of 22 in 1969, he looked ready for the NBA stage right away. He led the league in field goals and two-pointers in his rookie campaign. By his second season, he was already leading the league in scoring and capturing back-to-back MVP awards.
Wembanyama has entered the league with a similar blend of confidence and rare talent. Since his arrival, the Frenchman has already led the league in blocks and continues to do the same with effortless ease even in the 2025-26 season while logging career-highs in scoring and rebounding.
Seeing this thorough dominance from Victor, Howard has publicly praised the Spurs' big man for his willingness to put in the hard work, tune out external noise, and dedicate himself to getting better.
Additionally, according to Dwight, the comparison to Abdul-Jabbar goes beyond just numbers. Much like six-time MVP, once Wembanyama finds his rhythm during a game, it is almost impossible to contain his wrath.
"It's amazing to see him going to work with Jamal Crawford for his handles, him going to see KG for his mentality on the court. That's awesome. He's like Kareem with a jump shot. Not saying Kareem didn't have a jump shot, Kareem was the hook. This guy is doing the jump shot with some Magic Johnson, man, and some KG, he got it," Howard said . "So, I'm loving what he's doing on the court."
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An MVP award certainly appears within reach for Wemby this season, especially with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sidelined and the Spurs rapidly chasing the OKC Thunder for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference standings. If San Antonio can do that, it would be difficult to ignore the Frenchman's case for MVP.
However, if Victor truly wants the comparison to Kareem to hold long-term weight, he will eventually need to guide his franchise to a championship as well. That is why Dwight stressed the need for Wembanyama to stay healthy and enjoy a sustained career.
"I just want him to stay healthy and continue success," Howard added. "He is going to carry our league with the rest of these young guys."
The 22-year-old big man has already captured the attention of Hall of Famers. If he continues to operate with maturity and dominance, leads the Spurs deep into the postseason, and cements himself firmly in the MVP conversation, there is no telling how highly this campaign will be regarded.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Feb 14, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
