Entrusted with the expectations and future of the San Antonio Spurs from the moment he arrived, Victor Wembanyamawas thrust into a path toward greatness earlier than most. It’s a journey once taken by Tim Duncan, who is arguably the greatest Spur of all time.
However, Spurs legend Sean Elliott sees a key difference between the two, noting that Wembanyama is still barely scratching the surface at 22, whereas Duncan was the far more complete player at the same age.
Advertisement
“Completely different players to be honest with you,” he said on The Dan Patrick Show. “He’s still getting there. I still think he hasn’t really begun to reach his true potential. So, I don’t think he’s even close.”
Duncan was ‘extremely polished’ at 22
When the Wake Forest product was drafted first overall in 1997, he helped the Spurs regain their winning form, going from just 20 wins the previous year to reaching the conference semifinals. And he was only 21 back then.
Advertisement
According to Elliot, who played for the franchise for 11 years, Duncan’s talent was already clear from the beginning, even off the court.
“He came over to the house and whooped up on me on some video games,” he said. “He’s one of those kids you show him how to do something…he does it better than you in about 10 minutes.”
Elliott said this translated on the court, especially in Duncan’s second season, when he turned 22. The two-time All-Star recalled how the Big Fundamental moved like an experienced veteran during practice and games, with his polished play and mature feel for the game.
Advertisement
Although there was plenty of room for growth for Timmy, Sean knew the Spurs had found their new centerpiece, especially after he led them to their first championship in franchise history that year.
“I thought he was extremely polished, really fundamentally sound, but it wasn’t like, you know, he was super athletic. You could see the kind of shot-blocking ability that he would develop later on, and you know, he still had a long way to go with his game, but he was pretty much there,” Elliot explained.
Wemby still has a lot to learn
Duncan went on to build a Hall of Fame resume with the Spurs. In his 21 years with the team, he finished with five titles, three Finals MVPs, two MVPs and 15 All-Star selections. Since he walked away from the game, the Spurs have searched for the next star who will carry on his winning legacy.
Advertisement
Finally, in 2023, they found that as the 20-year-old Wembanyama was selected first overall by the Spurs front office. In just three years, the 7’4″ freak of nature made strides in both his game and mentality. This season, he finished in the top three of the MVP voting and became the first unanimous DPOY, a remarkable jump that struck fear into the hearts of his opponents.
Now an analyst for the Spurs broadcast, Elliot echoed the sentiment of many fans and pundits — that this is just the beginning. He praised his continuous drive to be better and to win, as evidenced by his transformative offseason, where he trained with monks and NBA legends Hakeem Olajuwon and Kevin Garnett.
“He’s going to continue to figure out the game a lot more. He’s going to continue to work on his game because that’s the kind of person he is and that’s the kind of basketball player he wants to be,” Sean said. “He wants to be great.”
Advertisement
Now, Wembanyama is in the Finals, hoping to lead a young and hungry Spurs squad to its first chip since 2014. He still has a lot to learn. But if this is what Victor looks like at 22 — and he’s already being compared to Tim — the league better be prepared for what’s ahead.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jun 5, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.