It isn’t often a player gets an earnest comparison to Boston Celtics Hall of Fame big man Bill Russell from one of Russell’s peers, but new NBA phenom Victor Wembanyama garnered such a comp from Los Angeles Lakers legend Jerry West at the NBA’s 2023 Las Vegas Summer League.
West said of Wemby on Sirius XM via Bleacher Report’s Paul Kasabian that “a little bit of a bigger Bill Russell” and that we “rarely see someone that combines his brain and his ability” — quite the compliment given that for many Russell was the greatest player to play the sport. “Just watching him play, it’s an easy game for him to play, very easy,” suggested West.
“Never looks like he’s really working, and if you watch really great players, they don’t look like they’re working hard, they’re always in the right place at the right time.”
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“But I think when he comes into the league,” related the Lakers icon. “If you watch him defensively, he ruins games. He reminds me a little bit of a bigger Bill Russell with a big reach coming from everywhere, blindside.”
“Any offensive player is going to have to really be cautious about where he is, because he is going to mess up some offenses, that’s for sure.”
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