Spurs' Victor Wembanyama makes basketball history never done by NBA center
Victor Wembanyama has added another milestone to an already unprecedented start to his NBA career, achieving a feat no center in league history had previously reached. For the San Antonio Spurs’ 7-foot-4 phenom, it is less an isolated accomplishment than a vivid snapshot of how he is reshaping what the position can be.
Traditional centers have long been defined by rim protection, post scoring, and rebounding. Modern bigs have stretched the floor and handled the ball more, but Wembanyama operates in an even broader lane. His latest historic benchmark underscores a rare blend of size, skill, and versatility typically associated with elite guards and wings. That he is doing it while anchoring the middle for San Antonio highlights how the center position continues to evolve.
Around the league, coaches and scouts view Wembanyama as the clearest example yet of the “positionless” era fully reaching the 5 spot. His ability to influence every possession on both ends has turned routine box scores into nightly talking points. Whether he is blocking shots in space, initiating offense off the dribble, or spacing the floor with perimeter shooting, he consistently fills categories that centers were never expected to touch.
From a historical lens, this latest first-time achievement places Wembanyama in a conversation that has included names like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, Tim Duncan, and Nikola Jokić. Each redefined the role in their own way. Wembanyama’s twist is that he seems to combine elements of all of them while adding a guard’s fluidity on the perimeter.
For the Spurs, his breakthrough is more than a trivia note. It is a foundational proof of concept that their franchise cornerstone is not just unique, but uniquely impactful. For the rest of the NBA, it is a warning that game plans built on conventional matchups may no longer apply.
If this is what Wembanyama is doing at this stage, the question is no longer whether he can change the center position. It is how far he will push the boundaries of what a basketball player can be.
Traditional centers have long been defined by rim protection, post scoring, and rebounding. Modern bigs have stretched the floor and handled the ball more, but Wembanyama operates in an even broader lane. His latest historic benchmark underscores a rare blend of size, skill, and versatility typically associated with elite guards and wings. That he is doing it while anchoring the middle for San Antonio highlights how the center position continues to evolve.
Around the league, coaches and scouts view Wembanyama as the clearest example yet of the “positionless” era fully reaching the 5 spot. His ability to influence every possession on both ends has turned routine box scores into nightly talking points. Whether he is blocking shots in space, initiating offense off the dribble, or spacing the floor with perimeter shooting, he consistently fills categories that centers were never expected to touch.
From a historical lens, this latest first-time achievement places Wembanyama in a conversation that has included names like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, Tim Duncan, and Nikola Jokić. Each redefined the role in their own way. Wembanyama’s twist is that he seems to combine elements of all of them while adding a guard’s fluidity on the perimeter.
For the Spurs, his breakthrough is more than a trivia note. It is a foundational proof of concept that their franchise cornerstone is not just unique, but uniquely impactful. For the rest of the NBA, it is a warning that game plans built on conventional matchups may no longer apply.
If this is what Wembanyama is doing at this stage, the question is no longer whether he can change the center position. It is how far he will push the boundaries of what a basketball player can be.
