![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP25009837277808-1024x685.jpg\")
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) in the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 3, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo\/David Zalubowski)<\/p>\nFriday Faceoff: Which superstar big man do you take now \u2014 the Spurs\u2019 Victor Wembanyama or Nuggets\u2019 Nikola Jokic? <\/p>\n
Paul Klee, sports editor<\/p>\n
Answer: Joker<\/p>\n
With all due respect to my friend Vinny Buckets, the basketball world\u2019s rush to crown Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama is a classic case of recency bias.<\/p>\n
This is Wemby\u2019s moment. And all of ball is a prisoner of the moment.<\/p>\n
Shoot, I even heard the KSE homers on the Altitude Sports morning show opting for Wemby. Did I just imagine a Jokic season in which he averaged a triple-double and led the NBA in rebounds and assists as a center?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Yes, Wemby is a once-in-forever talent. And you know what I love most about the 22-year-old? He hates losing more than he loves winning. Respect.\u00a0Save me a couch cushion for the next decade of Wemby action ball in south Texas.<\/p>\n
But ball don\u2019t lie: In their past three matchups, Joker averaged 42.3 points, 11.6 rebounds and 10.6 assists. Wemby was awesome, too, with 29.6 points, 19.6 boards, 4.6 assists and the edge on \u2018D\u2019 \u2014 unless he was guarding Joker.<\/p>\n
The main reason I take Joker without hesitation? He takes a licking and keeps on ticking. And Wemby\u2019s on the ground. A lot. Watch Game 3 of the Western Conference finals Friday night. Big fella is always on the ground. <\/p>\n
The past two seasons Wemby\u2019s missed 36 and 18 games. Jokic has never missed 18 games in a season. His most was 17, this season. That\u2019s durable.<\/p>\n
Joker or Wemby? Tough call, and a fun one. The day will come when Wemby\u2019s the undisputed man. But it\u2019s not today.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) in the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 3, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo\/David Zalubowski)<\/p>\n
Vinny Benedetto, Nuggets writer<\/p>\n
Answer: Wemby<\/p>\n
Nikola Jokic\u2019s reign as the league\u2019s most untouchable player ended unceremoniously.<\/p>\n
In the days since the Nuggets\u2019 season ended April 30 in Minneapolis, the Spurs\u2019 22-year-old extraterrestrial snatched the crown by doing what Jokic couldn\u2019t \u2014 take down the Timberwolves. He did it by putting up numbers that are peak Jokic; 39 points and 15 rebounds in a Game 3 win over Minnesota and 27 points, 17 rebounds and 5 assists to give the Spurs a 3-2 lead in the second-round series.<\/p>\n
All he\u2019s done in the Western Conference finals is steal home-court advantage from the Thunder with a 41-point, 24-rebound masterpiece in Game 1.<\/p>\n
Jokic is still the game\u2019s best offensive player, and it\u2019s not close. That same can be said of Wembanyama on the other end. The difference is Wembanyama\u2019s a better offensive player than Joker is a defender, and he\u2019s much younger.<\/p>\n
When Wembanyama refines parts of his offensive game, teams are going to be helpless. He\u2019s already a serviceable shooter from beyond the arc and at the line. Rudy Gobert made Jokic look human for the first time in a long time.<\/p>\n
Denver\u2019s front office doesn\u2019t answer any call about a Jokic trade unless the number starts with 210 or 726. As much as Josh Kronke reiterated trading Jokic was the only thing that\u2019s off the table this offseason, Denver\u2019s president would be a fool to ignore a call from San Antonio if it ever came.<\/p>\n
Welcome to Wemby\u2019s world. We\u2019re just living it.<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n <\/a>
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n <\/a>
\n
\n
\n
\n <\/a>
\n
\n
\n
\n <\/a>
\n
\n
\n
\n <\/a>
\n
<\/p>\n