In a recent interview with CBS Sports, NBA sensation Victor Wembanyama, the San Antonio Spurs’ standout who clinched the Rookie of the Year title last season, opened up about his aspirations for the upcoming year. Despite facing defeat with the French national team in the Olympic gold medal match against the reigning champions, Team USA, Wembanyama expressed a commitment to continuous improvement, even stating that he’s “worried about future opponents.”
Standing at an impressive 7 feet 3 inches, Wembanyama revealed that dunking on some of the league’s elite defenders is high on his bucket list. Among those he hopes to dunk on is his fellow Frenchman and four-time Defensive Player of the Year, Rudy Gobert.
“I think Kawhi Leonard falls into that category too,” he commented, acknowledging the challenge these respected defenders represent. “Being able to dunk on them would be an incredible feeling.” After naming Gobert and Leonard, he selected Jonathan Isaac of the Orlando Magic as his third choice, explaining, “I think Isaac’s defensive skills are really underrated.”
Gobert and Leonard have both been recognized for their defensive prowess, with Gobert winning the Defensive Player of the Year award last season and Leonard earning it twice himself. Wembanyama also mentioned that Isaac has the talent to be named among the league’s best defenders. However, he noted that Isaac’s greatest hurdle has been his health; in the last three seasons, he has played only 34, 11, and 58 games, respectively, which falls short of the 65-game minimum needed to qualify for personal accolades.
