Shaq's shocking Wemby praise confirms what Spurs fans said from the start

Shaquille O'Neal made some explosive comments after the Spurs eliminated the Blazers with Tuesday's Game 5 victory. "I think Wemby is the first perfect big man that's ever been created", he states. "He can shoot free throws, play defense, play offense, he's a great team player".

What's that I heard? The Diesel is giving a young big man...credit? Even Charles and Kenny were in shock upon hearing this. Comments like these are hard to come by from Shaq, but it shows one thing: Victor Wembanyama is an undeniable talent.

All year long, he's turned critics into fans and doubters into believers. Getting the stamp of approval from the NBA's toughest big man critic is quite the feat. Out of all of the impossible things we see him do on the court, this trumps them all.

Is Shaq overreacting to Wemby?

On the surface, Shaq's statements seem like hyperbole and overreaction, but when you think about it, there is a ton of merit to the point he's making. For starters, I think it's important to clarify that he's highlighting Wemby's overall base skill set, not career results. He's referring more to the tools Victor possesses rather than the accolades.

If you look at it that way, it makes sense. On offense, he's an athletic, daunting interior presence who can also space the floor at a high level and make defenses respect him as a shooter. Additionally, he can put the ball on the deck and drive defenders to the rim, not being afraid to offer up some physicality to get a bucket.

Defensively, he's even more of a threat. He's the league's best shot blocker, leading in blocks per game for each of his first three years. He is also one of the NBA's best pick-and-roll defenders. His ability to guard in space will be tested more as the playoffs move forward, but he does have the mobility and length to do well there.

We can also throw in the underrated passing chops he possesses, along with the ability to get to the free-throw line and make them consistently as a seven-footer (over 80% in back-to-back seasons). So, as far as the all-around tool kit Victor possesses, there is some validity to Shaq's argument.

Wembanyama's mindset is also what separates him

Wemby glues his otherworldly skills together with a competitive mindset. Let's face it, he is flat-out mean on the basketball court. He's never hesitant to let opponents know when he makes a big play.

He's also very conscious of how good he actually is. I mean, the man was prompted to give a dissertation on his MVP case in the later part of the regular season and defended it with perfection. This level of confidence isn't a quality many possess, and it proves that Victor has that "it factor."

Perhaps that's why Shaq loves him so much. He's most commonly heard criticizing the toughness of this generation of hoopers. While it does seem unfair at times, one thing is for certain: he can't apply those criticisms to Wemby.

Victor has been separating himself from the competition all year long, and this latest nod of approval from an NBA legend is another sign of his greatness.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow