Victor Wembanyama's been the most dominant player in the postseason, putting on a two-way display that we haven't witnessed in a long time. His elite production led to many being prepared to crown him as the best in the world, but others aren't fully sold on this notion just yet.
"I mean, is he the best player in the league?" NBA insider Marc Stein ponders on the ALL NBA Podcast. "I'm not ready to go that far yet. But if he leads his team to a championship..."
Listen, it's hard not to get hyperbolic about Wemby. The man is doing some things that we've never seen from a 7'4 player, and at such an early stage in his career. But it's still fair to apply some framework before officially crowning him as the best player in the world.
Wemby does need to lead the Spurs to a championship before snatching the crown
I agree with Marc Stein's notion. While it's easy to get caught up in the things we're seeing Wemby do each night, there's a big-picture element to this. It wouldn't be fair to crown him as the best player in the league until he crosses the same threshold that others who held that title did.
Winning a championship is a must for receiving that recognition. And it's not just about a player having a shiny ring and an accolade on their resume. It's also proof that they can perform and close out on the biggest stage in basketball.
Now, there is nuance to this. A title win doesn't always secure "best in the league" status. I'm not sure too many people will give Jalen Brunson that label if he leads the Knicks to a championship. But for Wemby, it would be his unmatched two-way production combined with a Finals victory that'll move people to crown him as the best player on the planet.
The magnitude of this series will make Wemby's case stronger
It's not just Victor Wembanyama winning a championship that would strengthen his "best player in the world" case. It's also the magnitude of coming out on top of this particular matchup against the Knicks.
Yes, the Spurs are seeded higher, but New York can match up with them pretty well. Not only are they healthy, but they have the exact type of players who could give Wemby a tough time. OG Anunoby will see a lot of possessions as his primary defender.
Additionally, the Knicks beat San Antonio in the In-Season Tournament several months back. So this is a formidable opponent for Victor and the Spurs, and quite possibly their toughest of this impressive postseason run. Jalen Brunson has been elite, and he has healthy options around him.
Winning a championship against such a competitive, not to mention big-market, organization will make it difficult for skeptics to go against the grain on this Wemby conversation. He can shift the narrative in his favor and become the best player in the game at such a young age.
