ESPN analyst JJ Redick said Victor Wembanyama belongs to a rare breed of low-maintenance NBA stars — alongside Steph Curry and Tim Duncan.
The former NBA point guard turned sportscaster brought up a story about the 20-year-old San Antonio Spurs star attending a Drake concert to back up his claim.
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Redick, 39, discussed Wembanyama’s rookie season in an appearance on Carmelo Anthony’s 7pm in Brooklyn podcast, a Wave Sports + Entertainment original.
The former Orlando Magic and LA Clippers sharpshooter said the 7-foot-1 French center exceeded his expectations, especially after the Spurs started playing him at 5.
The ESPN star also emphasized Wemby’s humility and selflessness, which he managed to demonstrate despite the enormous hype surrounding his personality.
“He has this incredible ability to be aware of everything that’s going on,” Redick said.
Redick said he has heard countless stories from the Spurs team that attest to Wembanyama’s maturity and self-awareness — including one about the No. 1 pick’s interaction with Drake.
“There was a Drake concert in Austin,” the sportscaster said.
“And he was asked to come on stage because Drake was doing it with a bunch of NBA guys this offseason.
“And Wemby said, ‘Can my teammates come on stage with me?’ Because they will be on the show with me.
“And Drake’s camp said, ‘No.’ And he said, ‘Then I don’t want to do that.’
“What 19-year-old doesn’t want to go on stage with Drake?”
Redick said he could only remember Curry and Duncan — who led the Spurs to five championships — being equally easy-going among NBA stars.
“There have been anomalies for the star players because they are low maintenance,” he said.
“There’s like Steph [Curry], and there’s like Tim Duncan. Wemby is one of those guys.
“That to me is as impressive as anything he does on the court.
There have been anomalies for star players because they are low maintenance. It’s like Steph [Curry], and there’s like Tim Duncan. Wemby is one of those guys
JJ Redick
Wembanyama averaged 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.2 steals and a league-best 3.6 blocks in 71 games during his rookie season.
Only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing, David Robinson and Alonzo Mourning recorded at least 21 points and 3.6 blocks per game in a previous NBA season.
No one has recorded these numbers since Mourning in 1999-00.
But Wemby recently said he’s just getting started.
“I would say I’m currently at 15% between my first NBA game and what I hope is my peak,” said the Spurs great.
Wembanyama’s heroics did not translate into victories, as the young Spurs team finished the 2023-24 NBA season with a 22-60 record.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
