Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images Victor Wembanyama is an undeniable superstar. The NBA world was not ready for Victor Wembanyama. At least not the media apparatus surrounding it. In a somewhat predictable move, many talking heads have looked for ways to break down the French big man, pushing his superstardom off, not trying to crown him one of the best in the league so early. From a prominent Ringer podcast host saying he’s worse than Jaren Jackson Jr. to Stephen A. Smith dunking on a mini-hoop to prove a point about his height to “anonymous scouts” saying he doesn’t impact the game offensively, the conversation around Wembanyama has been tiring for much of the year. Friday night’s 113-110 San Antonio Spurs win over the Denver Nuggets should end the noise. Wembanyama went toe-to-toe with arguably the greatest player in the world and beat him on the eve of his 21st birthday. He put up 35 points, 18 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks while giving the Spurs life down the stretch with some big plays. The biggest thing was it didn’t feel abnormal. It feels like he should be doing that because it’s what he’s done all season. It’s hard to be hyperbolic about Wembanyama. He’s doing things we’ve never seen so early in his career. Is he the heir apparent to the basketball GOAT crown? Maybe. Is he an All-Star in his second season? Certainly. Is he already a top-10 player in the NBA? You could make that argument. And he still has so much room to grow. He can clean up turnovers, get in even better shape, and develop go-to moves and spots on the court. But enough glazing in the WWL. Friday night’s game felt like a turning point for how the Spurs season can go. Last year’s squad would have lost that game and maybe been blown out after a poor showing in the third quarter. They fought tooth and nail to beat a former NBA champion on the road. They were led by a superstar who is undeniable today, not just in the future. He should be appreciated as such. Takeaways: Wembanyama rightfully will get a lot of shine coming out of Friday’s win, but Devin Vassell deserves a lot of credit for the win. The steal and dunk to seal it is the highlight, but he was rock solid defensively all night. He kept the Spurs afloat in stretches with his aggressive scoring mentality, particularly when Wembanyama was on the bench. To make it even better, he did it when his jumper wasn’t falling. Vassell had 18 points and 6 assists while hitting just one three. In two seasons, he’s turned his downhill attacking game from a weakness to a strength. Vassell might not be THE running mate for Wembanyama, but he certainly is A running mate for him. When he becomes the 3rd or 4th option on this team, they are going to be a dangerous offensive unit. The Spurs are 8-1 when Keldon Johnson scored 15 or more after his 16-point performance on Friday. Johnson is heavily criticized on social media for his play, but he’s been really good over the last week or so. He’s also clearly integral to the locker room. In the 4th quarter, when the Spurs tied the game, he was the one to rally the troops and get them ready for crunch time. It was fitting that Julian Champagnie was so impactful while Danny Green was on the broadcast call for Friday’s game. The third-year wing has garnered a lot of comparisons to Green over the last two seasons. He showed off more than just 3&D capabilities against Denver. He hit a mid-range pull-up, made smart cuts off the ball, and finished at the rim – leading to a 15-point performance where he hit three triples. This play below has to be my favorite of the game. Wembanyama gets THREE defenders to jump on his shot fake before dumping it to Johnson, who gets the and-1 layup. Wembanyama’s gravity on the court is the craziest I’ve seen since Stephen Curry. WEMBY DIME TO KELDON JOHNSONAND-1 RAHHHHH pic.twitter.com/FqBfVWTWp9— WembyMuse (@Wemby_Muse) January 4, 2025 I’ve been in the camp that the Spurs need for a backup big man is a bit overblown... but I may be coming around. Zach Collins plays hard and will scrap with bigs down low, but he’s just not a good enough defender to hold his own against some of the better scoring bigs in the league. If his jump shot is going to be this frigid, his impact on the offense is minimal. I don’t believe the backup center position is one to invest major capital in, but if there is someone out there (like Jonas Valanciunas) that can be had for cheap, that is a move San Antonio should consider at the deadline.