Victor Wembanyama has had a busy summer, and as he prepares for his upcoming season with the San Antonio Spurs, he was seen training with Kevin Garnett.
Despite missing the final 29 games of last season with a deep vein thrombosis diagnosis, Victor Wembanyama has had a very busy summer.
As he prepares for his third season with the San Antonio Spurs, he has traveled to China to train with monks, as well as taken vacations to Costa Rica and Japan. While he was just recently cleared for full five-on-five drills, he seems ready to hit the ground running next season.
While he will not suit up for France at EuroBasket this summer, he was recently spotted with former MVP Kevin Garnett, sending fans into a frenzy.
At just 21 years old, Wembanyama has cemented himself as the very best defender in the NBA, provided he is healthy. With the Spurs, he has constant access to David Robinson and Tim Duncan, two of the better defenders of all-time, but that hasn’t stopped him from seeking out training from Hakeem Olajuwon, as well.
On Tuesday, he was spotted taking lessons from Kevin Garnett, a former MVP, DPOTY, and 12-time All-Defensive player.
Of course, fans immediately connected the dots and suspect that Wemby will be even more dangerous next season.
“MVP season loading,” posted a fan.
“Oh yeah, make my boy dominant man in the paint,” added another.
“Can’t wait if he gonna play like you,” chimed in a third.
Despite Garnett’s sustained dominance, the most famous part of his game was his competitive intensity and trash-talking. If his “fire” rubs off on Wembanyama, it’s easy to imagine “The Alien” taking his game to new heights.
“Having monks and KG be your guiding hands this offseason is really something,” joked a user on social media.
“If he can channel the spirit of KG…it’s over for everyone,” declared another.
When Wembanyama entered the NBA, he was touted as having the scoring chops of Kevin Durant, the defense of Olajuwon, and the handles of Jayson Tatum. Adding in Garnett’s intensity just brings another layer.
While Wembanyama was compared to a smattering of NBA legends, this year’s top pick, Cooper Flagg, has earned “mini KG” comparisons. This was in large part thanks to his defensive acumen and mindset on the floor.
Current players have taken Flagg under their wing, and once he establishes himself as a rising star, legends will likely be willing to work with him, as well.
Between Flagg and Wembanyama, the league seems to be in good hands, and defense, after the Stephen Curry revolution, is finally making its way back to the forefront of basketball stardom. For former players like Garnett, he has been given a chance to mentor and mold the next generation.
