Takeaways from Best Quotes at 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

Victor Wembanyama struggled a bit in the Rising Stars game, turning the ball over five times in 12 minutes, but his rising star is undeniable.

And one of the 15-20 greatest players of all time affirmed that at media day.

"Man, that dude can achieve anything he wants in this game," Durant said of the 7'4" phenom. "He's only getting more comfortable as time goes on. Twenty, 10, 3.5 blocks a game, two or three assists. It's just insane how dominant he's going to be as he gets more comfortable in the game. Luckily I'm on my way out, so I won't have to deal with it too much."

Wemby immediately stands out in every game he plays, including the aforementioned Rising Stars affair. His struggles controlling the ball were as much a product of the environment as anything else. It was an exhibition game. He and his teammates had their foot off the gas against a team of G Leaguers (and paid for it by losing), but there are impacts he can't help but make naturally.

On defense, he's like a curtain draped in front of the rim. There's seemingly no shot he can't affect. On the other end, there's seemingly no pass near the bucket that's outside his reach. And of course, his ability to create and score from the perimeter is unprecedented for a player of his size. We've already seen threes, step-backs, shamgods, off-the-backboard dunks. He's audacious, and he just turned 20.

Durant's right. There is no ceiling. As he and some of the other faces of the league over the past two decades start to filter out, the NBA is still in good hands.

"You look around the league—I'm going to miss a lot of guys, but you see Shai [Gilgeous-Alexander, [Anthony Edwards], Devin Booker, Luka, Tyrese Maxey, Tyrese Haliburton," Durant said. "There are so many guys inspiring the next generation of hoopers after them to become basketball players that you can't just pinpoint it to one or two guys."