It’s rare to see a player so young make this kind of leap—but what Victor Wembanyama is doing right now feels unprecedented. Through the first four games of the 2025-26 NBA season, the 21-year-old French phenom has not just lived up to the hype, he’s surpassing it. The question that once felt premature now demands to be asked: Is Wembanyama already the best player in the league?
A Historic Start
Wembanyama’s opening stretch has been nothing short of astonishing. The Spurs are 4–0, and he’s averaging 31 points, 13.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 4.8 blocks, and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 60% from the field and 80% from the line. His Player Efficiency Rating (PER) sits at an absurd 41.2, and while it’s bound to come down over time, that figure underscores just how dominant he’s been to start the season.
What’s perhaps most remarkable is how sustainable much of this looks. Wembanyama’s efficiency is coming from inside and out, he’s scoring like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with the skill set of a modern guard. His mobility, touch, and ability to protect the rim at 7-foot-5 make him something basketball has never seen: a player who combines the physical dominance in his own way of Wilt Chamberlain with the versatility of Kevin Durant.
The Model Agrees
According to our statistical model, Wembanyama already ranked 5th in the NBA last season, with a score of 5.67, trailing only Nikola Jokić (7.11), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (7.04), and Giannis Antetokounmpo (6.88). That gap, while notable, looks well within reach now, knowing players make their biggest leaps under 23 years old.
Jokić remains the standard-bearer for impact, but Wembanyama’s trajectory suggests he may not be for long. Players often make their biggest developmental leaps around this age, and with his blend of size, skill, and defensive dominance, Wembanyama’s jump might be one of the most dramatic we’ve ever seen.
Even if his PER normalizes to where the top guys have been places to around the low to mid 30’s and a 33–35 for the season, that would still place him among the best individual years in league history. If this pace continues, he could feasibly take over as the league’s best player—and at 21 years old, he’d be the youngest to hold that unofficial title since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1970.
Following in Legendary Footsteps
To put that in perspective, here’s a look at the youngest players to claim the top spot in our model: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at 22 years old.
If Wembanyama takes the crown this season—or even next—he’ll be in truly elite company. Kareem held the “best player” designation in our model for 12 years, more than anyone in history. Michael Jordan (9), LeBron James (8), and Wilt Chamberlain (10) followed. The fact that Wembanyama’s name is already entering that discussion tells you everything about the scale of what we’re witnessing and potential.
The Ceiling: Best Ever?
It’s too early for definitive claims, but the ceiling here might be the highest the sport has ever seen. Wembanyama is a two-inch-taller Kareem with three-point range and ball-handling skills. The blend of rim protection, perimeter agility, and offensive creation from this body type simply doesn’t exist anywhere else in basketball history.
If he continues this ascent, the question will shift from “Is he the best player in the NBA?” to “Is he the best player of all time?” That may sound hyperbolic, but greatness often looks impossible until it’s already happening.
The Only Thing That Can Stop Him
The only real concern now is durability. History hasn’t been kind to players this tall—foot and knee injuries have derailed countless careers. But if health holds, we could be witnessing not just the rise of a generational talent, but the beginning of a reign that could rival Kareem’s in longevity and dominance.
At 21 years old, Victor Wembanyama is doing things we’ve never seen before. If this is even close to real, the league may already belong to him—and we might be watching the early chapters of a reign and career that redefines basketball’s limits.
