Spurs Insider Says Victor Wembanyama 'Is Closer to Kevin Durant Than' Hakeem Olajuwon

The San Antonio Spurs reportedly aren't worried that Victor Wembanyama's reliance on three-pointers ranks him closer to the NBA's backcourt leaders than frontcourt stars.

According to ESPN's Michael C. Wright, "internally, the Spurs are often amused to hear so much conversation and consternation about the shot diet of their young star."

"One team source believes Wembanyama is closer to Kevin Durant than, say, Hakeem Olajuwon, which helps explain why nearly half his shot attempts come from beyond the arc," Wright wrote.

Through 23 games Wembanyama has made 49.4 percent of his shot attempts from deep, averaging 9.1 three-point attempts and making 3.2 per game.

Comparatively, the 7-foot-3 forward-center averages 5.6 two-pointers on 9.3 attempts per game.

Wembanyama has earned comparisons to Olajuwon since his rookie season thanks to his skills as a shot-blocker, which currently have him leading the NBA in blocks per game for the second straight season.

During the Spurs' Saturday win over the Portland Trail Blazers, he joined Olajuwon as one of six NBA players to record 30 points and 10 blocks in a single game.

But the Spurs apparently expect Wembanyama to end up earning more comparisons to Durant, who won four scoring titles between 2009 and 2014.

Wembanyama, who faced Durant when Team USA and Team France played for gold during the 2024 Paris Olympics, would likely be pleased by his team's internal comparisons to a player he has previously said was his favorite as a child.

Durant meanwhile said during Wembanyama's rookie season that the Spurs star was "going to be a force in this league for a long time," so he likely wouldn't mind the comparison either.

The young Spurs star and the Suns veteran are slated to meet up in San Antonio when their two teams play next on Thursday, Feb. 20.