Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Victor Wembanyama Ranks 5th, Surpassing LeBron and Curry

9/26/2025

35 7 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Victor Wembanyama, center for the San Antonio Spurs, ranks No. 5 on Entertainment and Sports Programming Network (ESPN)'s Top 100, ahead of LeBron James and Steph Curry.
Critics call the ranking premature given his playoff inexperience.
Last season he averaged 24.3 points and 11.0 rebounds in 46 games.
He trained with Hakeem Olajuwon and Kevin Garnett to sharpen his skills.

History

Historical Context

The NBA draft lottery was introduced in 1996 to enhance competitive balance, allowing teams like the San Antonio Spurs to strategically acquire top talent. In 2023, the Spurs selected Victor Wembanyama first overall, marking him as the first French player to achieve this distinction. His early performance draws comparisons to Tim Duncan, highlighting the high expectations placed on transformative rookies in the league.

1 of 2

Story summary

Victor Wembanyama, center for the San Antonio Spurs, ranks No. 5 on Entertainment and Sports Programming Network (ESPN)'s Top 100, ahead of LeBron James and Steph Curry.
Critics call the ranking premature given his playoff inexperience.
Last season he averaged 24.3 points and 11.0 rebounds in 46 games.
He trained with Hakeem Olajuwon and Kevin Garnett to sharpen his skills.

1 / 2