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"Very few PR mistakes" - Victor Wembanyama reveals the surprising lesson he’s learning from LeBron James
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- "Very few PR mistakes" - Victor Wembanyama reveals the surprising lesson he’s learning from LeBron James
LeBron James , at 41 and in his record-breaking 23rd season, remains the NBA's biggest star, and he will continue to be until he officially retires. Over the years, many candidates have threatened to take that throne, but so far, no one has succeeded.
Players in their late 30s, such as Kevin Durant , Stephen Curry , Nikola Jokic , Giannis Antetokounmpo , Kawhi Leonard , Joel Embiid , and James Harden , as well as younger stars like Luka Doncic , Jayson Tatum , and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander , have tried to challenge him. Still, none have dethroned The King as the face of the league.
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However, time will eventually catch up with LeBron, and someone will need to take the baton. The two leading candidates appear to be Victor Wembanyama and Cooper Flagg . At All-Star Media Day, the French center spoke about what he can learn from LeBron in that regard.
"I actually think LeBron is very intelligent in these areas and him obviously being the face of the league," Wemby stressed . "In two decades, I mean, very few PR mistakes. I think that definitely takes some intelligence. I would love to [talk to him about that]. All of them can learn something from LeBron."
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Wembaynama has already shown a great level of maturity
As for Wembanyama, he was already a recognized figure even before playing his first NBA minute. The NBA set a precedent by broadcasting all games of his French club, the Metropolitans 92, during the season before his draft.
While not a EuroLeague-level team, the attention Wemby drew and the club's eventual bankruptcy highlighted just how much notice the 7-foot-4 center commanded.
Now in his third season, it's clear Wembanyama has lived up to the hype. At just 22 years old, he's performing at MVP-caliber levels. Individually, he's excelling, and the San Antonio Spurs hold second place in the Western Conference, including a 4-0 season series sweep over the reigning champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder .
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If he avoids injuries, great things lie ahead of him as the French wonderkid has shown remarkable maturity both on and off the court so far. Clearly, he also looks up to the Los Angeles Lakers forward as a perfect example of how someone representing the NBA should carry themselves.
LeBron set the blueprint for the rest of the league
Other young players are also trying to claim that mantle, like Anthony Edwards , while some, like Ja Morant and Zion Williamson , have fallen short of expectations, showing how difficult and demanding this role is. Yet Wemby seems the most prepared to follow in LeBron's footsteps, something the four-time champ himself said on who he thinks will be the face of the NBA in the future .
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"Obviously, it depends on the questions he wants to ask me, but from the outside looking in, he has a great head on his shoulders," LeBron said . "He seems like he loves the game, he takes care of his body, the process and everything. You're going to get out of the game what you put into it. I think he's been great for the Spurs franchise but also for the league for years to come."
Comparing Wembanyama, who is already establishing rivalries like the one with Chet Holmgren and OKC, motivating teammates, and pushing intensity in All-Star settings, to LeBron, it's logical that he could be the one to carry the torch forward.
As for LeBron himself, he has managed his 23-year career almost flawlessly, a monumental achievement given the fame, pressure, and longevity required to stay at the top. That is a legacy that cannot be measured by a single stat or trophy.
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This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Feb 16, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
