Victor Wembanyama’s magical playoff run continues to earn praise from around the basketball world.
Fresh off leading the San Antonio Spurs to their first NBA Finals appearance since 2014, the 22-year-old superstar received perhaps the biggest compliment of his young career from former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins.
Kendrick Perkins Praises Victor Wembanyama After Spurs Win WCF Game 7
Speaking on SportsCenter following the Spurs’ Game 7 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference finals, Perkins compared Wembanyama’s impact on the league to that of LeBron James when he entered the NBA in 2003.
“I mean, Wemby is the best thing that happened to the NBA since LeBron James in 2003, real talk,” Perkins said.
The former NBA big man went on to praise virtually every aspect of Wembanyama’s game and leadership.
“And he checks all the boxes. Number one, he’s box office, so he’s going to put butts in the seats. He’s the ultimate competitor on both ends of the floor, and what a beautiful performance throughout the whole course of this conference finals and the playoffs to get his team to the NBA Finals.”
Perkins also highlighted the leadership qualities Wembanyama has displayed throughout the Spurs’ postseason run.
“I can’t speak on his leadership enough on what he’s brought to the table, embodying the rest of his young squad, being a true leader. And trusting his teammates.”
“Wemby is the best thing that’s happened to the NBA since LeBron James in 2003.”@KendrickPerkins can’t praise the Spurs big man enough 👏 pic.twitter.com/e2Y2EznhbX
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 31, 2026
The praise seems justified, given the remarkable 2025-26 regular season and the stellar postseason performance from the French phenom.
This year, Wembanyama became the unanimous Defensive Player of the Year while also finishing inside the top three of the MVP race.
Following the WCF Game 7 win, the French prodigy added another trophy to his collection after being unanimously voted the recipient of the Earvin “Magic” Johnson Trophy as the Western Conference finals MVP.
The Western Conference finals was the battle of two remarkable youngsters: Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. But when the dust settled, it was Wembanyama who prevailed, with the Spurs advancing to the 2026 NBA Finals.
The 7-foot-4 center averaged 27.3 points, 10.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 2.7 blocks through seven games in the WCF. His elite two-way skill ultimately helped the Spurs secure a 111-103 victory on the road in Game 7 to snap a 12-year Finals drought.
Throughout the postseason, Wembanyama’s impact stretched far beyond the box score.
His unique blend of size, ball-handling, and perimeter shooting has made him one of the most difficult players to game-plan against.
At 7-foot-4 with guard skills, Wembanyama is a once-in-a-generation talent capable of dominating games on both ends of the floor.
Defensively, he alters entire offensive game plans simply by being on the court. Offensively, his ability to handle the ball and knock down outside shots forces defenders into impossible decisions.
Perkins also pointed to the emotion Wembanyama showed after securing the Western Conference crown.
“The Spurs on the road in a tough environment. They had seven guys in double figures tonight. And when you look at what Wemby did after the game, you saw his emotions.”
After the final buzzer, Wembanyama was visibly emotional as he embraced teammates while celebrating the biggest victory of his career.
The moment quickly went viral among NBA fans, many of whom praised the Spurs star’s passion and commitment to winning.
Here is two minutes of an extremely emotional Victor Wembanyama celebrating the aftermath of a conference finals elimination of the Thunder. Advances to his first Finals five months after his 22nd birthday. pic.twitter.com/T21ZdAKjaS
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) May 31, 2026
Perkins also pointed to the way Wembanyama has embraced every major stage the NBA has placed in front of him.
“How he wanted to win the MVP. How he made the All-Star game great again. And now all of a sudden we’re watching this young man embrace everything about the league and especially headed to the NBA Finals for his first time. It’s in a sense unlike any other, quite frankly,” Perkins said.
For Perkins, Wembanyama’s influence extends beyond statistics and accolades.
Much like LeBron James transformed expectations upon entering the league in 2003, many around the league believe Wembanyama is now driving a new era of excitement for the sport.
For now, however, the Spurs star remains focused on the task ahead of bringing a sixth NBA title to the team. They will now face the New York Knicks in the 2026 NBA Finals, with Game 1 scheduled for June 3.
