By Nikola Miloradovic / info@eurohoops.net
Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama will renew their matchup when Serbia hosts France in Belgrade, putting two of the NBA’s most unique superstars on the same court once again.
Their previous meeting came in early April, when Jokic recorded 40 points, 13 assists and eight rebounds in an overtime Denver Nuggets victory over Victor’s San Antonio Spurs. Wemby had 34 points, 18 rebounds and seven assists.
Ahead of the next encounter, former France head coach Vincent Collet explained what separates the two big men.
Collet coached Wembanyama at Metropolitans 92 before the San Antonio Spurs selected him with the first pick of the 2023 NBA Draft. Having witnessed his development at close range, he believes the French star is destined to reach the top of the game.
“Victor is going to be the best player in the world. His size and length are amazing, especially because he moves like a guard. He is 7-foot-4, but he moves like a guard. He is very quick and also very smart. That is why, defensively, he is already the best in the world for me,” Collet told Meridian Sport.
While Collet considers Wembanyama the world’s leading defensive player, he places Jokic above everyone else on the offensive end.
“On the other hand, I think Jokic is the best offensive player. The way he creates for his teammates while also scoring with very high efficiency makes him a real threat to any team. If you have Jokic, you have a good team, regardless of who plays with him. When he plays for Serbia, he has many good players around him, and he is the one who makes the others better. He has so many qualities, but the main one is his ability to make his teammates better.”
Collet’s confidence in Wembanyama dates back to their time together in France.
“When I coached him before the NBA, he was very young. He was only 18, but I was confident—almost sure—that he would become a great player. You never know what can happen, especially with injuries, but I believed in him. He is going to keep getting better year after year.”
Beyond Wembanyama’s extraordinary physical tools, Collet is particularly impressed by his approach to improvement.
“We talk about his special skills, but his mindset is also excellent. He wants to improve and works to become better. Last week, he was with a rugby team in France to work on his toughness. He is always doing things like that. Everything he can do to improve, he does. I think he will continue to grow as a player. For our national team, he is going to be what Jokic has been for Serbia.”
With both players competing in the NBA’s Western Conference and serving as the central figures of their national teams, their meetings are likely to carry significance far beyond the final score.
“It will certainly be a game within the game,” Collet concluded.
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