Victor Wembanyama , although still just 22 years of age, already appears to have taken a shortcut in what is turning out to be a legendary career. The 7-foot-4 French phenom already has a Defensive Player of the Year award, Rookie of the Year honors and a Western Conference Finals MVP on his rapidly growing resume of accolades.
When he came into the league, many expected that, barring any injuries, he had the potential to seriously challenge the GOAT throne. As of today, it certainly looks like the sky is the limit for Victor.
However, in the San Antonio Spurs ' unsuccessful quest for an NBA title, Wemby had a few questionable moments on the court, which led many to label him a dirty player. Although there is a growing group that continues to push the "villain Wemby" narrative, four-time NBA champion John Salley believes the young Spurs star is simply responding to everything defenders have been throwing at him in an attempt to slow him down.
While it may sometimes look awkward and even borderline dirty, Salley believes Wembanyama will learn to use his body better as his game continues to mature.
"I would just say, they call it dirty, but I saw them literally holding his arms, on the last shot. They were holding him like they were going to dance or they are going to pick him up. They had them limbs stuck to his side," Salley explained in the recent episode of the TFU podcast.
"And they used to butcher my man Shaquille O'Neal, and Shaq used to sit there and take it cause he was so big and strong. And Shaq just got tired of it."
From throwing an elbow at Naz Reid 's head during the Western Conference semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves to targeting Jalen Brunson and several other New York Knicks players in the NBA Finals, Wembanyama received plenty of criticism online and throughout the media for his actions.
Former players and analysts started believing that the 22-year-old had begun showing signs of dirty behavior that simply shouldn't be acceptable in a league as elite as the NBA, especially from a superstar-caliber player like Wembanyama.
Of course, there is another side that believes it is simply a logical response to all the tricks and tactics opponents use to get him off his game. It has become common for defenders to target his thin frame, constantly grabbing, pushing, and bumping him whenever possible. But when you are arguably the best player in the league, that is simply part of the job.
The great big men of previous generations all had to learn how to deal with that physicality, and Wembanyama is taking a walk on the same road to success.
"To the king comes a lot of responsibility. He has to figure out how to get them elbows up first, and set that perimeter. He ain't got to throw them, but if he turning 360 degrees and if you are in the way, you are going to get clipped. That's not dirty," Salley added. "I don't think he is a dirty player; I think you have to respect his elbows."
After a heartbreaking NBA Finals for the Spurs, in which they blew several double-digit leads, it is clear that Wembanyama and the rest of the roster are back to square one. All the wins, big plays, and emotions are now in the past, and in the constantly changing environment of the NBA, nobody has the luxury of living in the past for too long.
It is now up to Wembanyama to learn how to deal with the pressure that comes with being labeled the face of the league and a generational superstar, while also controlling his emotions when the stakes are at their highest. Because one thing is certain: we will be watching a lot more playoff Wemby in the years to come. By then, he will have to put this dirty-player narrative behind him and learn from the legends who faced similar challenges before him.
He is neither the first nor the last superstar to sometimes feel helpless against the physicality of NBA defenses. But what separates the good from the truly great is the ability to rise above those challenges.
Related: Victor Wembanyama gets pelted with eggs after Knicks' historic comeback
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jun 30, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
