Magic Johnson lauds Victor Wembanyama, compares him to LeBron James: “This guy is going to change his franchise forever”
It's tough to say that the NBA has seen a prospect as talented as LeBron James. However, former LA Lakers great Magic Johnson believes that there might be one player who could draw the same comparison.
That player? None other than Victor Wembanyama. He is expected to be the first pick in the 2023 draft as the 7-foot-5 star out of France has continued to prove to everybody that he's arguably the best prospect the league has ever seen.
Magic Johnson said this to USA Today For the Win:
“Man! I don’t know if we’ve seen a big man who can do the things that he can. Normally, you have one or the other. Either your post game is good or your outside jump shot is good. We’ve never seen a guy who can do both and can handle the basket and can also handle the basketball. He can block shots.
“He can affect the game in so many different ways, and whoever gets him: This guy is going to change his franchise forever. The hype is real. He will probably make an impact like LeBron did when he first came into the league (in 2003). This young man is special.
"I can tell how great he was when I met his parents in France. Now I see why he is such a special young man on the court and off. His parents are very involved. They’re good people. His mom played basketball. He’s a league changer and a franchise changer. I don’t know if we’ve seen someone with this type of talent in a long time be that young.”
Victor Wembanyama draws LeBron James comparison from Magic Johnson
Saying that any prospect is going to be as good as LeBron James is certainly something from Magic Johnson. It's tough to argue, however, that Victor Wembanyama can't complete that task.
While he is certainly going to have to prove to the league that he can perform to that same level, Wembanyama is as good as they come in terms of a player entering the league.
LeBron James has noticed his talent and has given Wembanyama the same praise that Magic Johnson has. According to ESPN, James said:
"Everybody has been labeling this unicorn thing. Everybody has been a unicorn for the last two years, but he's more like an alien. I've never seen – no one has ever seen – anyone as tall as he is, but as fluid and as graceful as he is out on the floor.
"His ability to put the ball on the floor, shoot step-back jumpers out of the post, step-back 3s, catch-and-shoot 3s, block shots. ... He's for sure a generational talent."
Wembanyama is going to be a treat to watch if he ends up being as talented as everyone believes he is. Living up to that hype won't be easy, but he has the talent to do so. Magic Johnson believes he has it all.