Victor Wembanyama made his N.B.A debuted last year after being selected with the first overall pick in the 2023 draft San Antonio Spurs. In his first season, he showed an outstanding level that allowed him to win the Rookie of the Year award and be included in the All-Defensive First Team, something that had never happened before. Despite these honors, his teammates continue to be surprised by his actions, including Chris Paul.

Accordingly ESPN's Michael C. Wright, Paul marveled at one of Wemby's moves during a recent Spurs training session. “(Paul had) watched Wembanyama collect a pass in transition a few yards behind the 3-point line, only to take a step with one foot while the other never came back to the ground.” Wright explained.

And then he revealed Chris Paul's reaction to this brilliant piece: “'Oh, (expletive)!' Paul said: “ assured the journalist. And he added a laudatory comparison: “Wembanyama had just practiced a one-legged 3-pointer, almost Dirk Nowitzki style.”

Chris Paul holds Wembanyama in high regard

“Victor’s presence helped” Chris Paul admitted after agreeing to join San Antonio Spurswhich made it clear that the presence of a player of Wembanyama's caliber was one of the factors that tipped the scales in choosing his new team.

Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs claps hands with Chris Paul #3 during action against the Orlando Magic in the first half of a preseason game at Frost Bank Center on October 9, 2024 in San Antonio, Texas.

“I played against him this season and let me tell you, there is probably no player in the league that everyone talks about after the game like him.” Paul said at the time. And he didn't spare his praise for his French teammate: “I don't think he has a ceiling… He's one of those guys that we were talking about after the game last year about how weird it was to guard him.”

see also

NBA News: Legend Shaq O'Neal makes bold statement about Spurs star Victor Wembanyama

Spurs' new duo

San Antonio has high expectations for what Chris Paul can do this season, particularly in complementing the talents of Victor Wembanyama. However, this will be a partnership that must be built over the course of the regular season.

Paul and Wemby only shared the pitch in two games last season: the 107-97 win against the Orlando magic (23 minutes for both, 11 points for Victor and five for Chris) and the 120-117 loss to the Miami Heat (8 points in 17 minutes for Wembanyama and 13 points in 25 minutes for Paul).

Hands down, head coach Gregg Popovich has kept its stars safe so far and will be betting that they will shine when the regular season begins this Thursday against the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center.