Shaquille O’Neal is back with his signature hot takes on ESPN’s Inside the NBA, and this time he’s singing praise for the Spurs’ rising star, Victor Wembanyama. It’s a big turnaround from last season, when Shaq had been far more skeptical. Back then, he compared Wembanyama to Bol Bol and even ranked him at No. 31, saying, “You’re good, but you’re not good enough.” Now, after a rookie season full of growth and flashes of brilliance, Victor has clearly earned Shaq’s respect, and it seems he’s finally landed on the Big Diesel’s good side.

Commenting on the Spurs vs. Mavs game, Shaquille O’Neal couldn’t stop gushing over Victor Wembanyama’s performance on NBA on ESPN.

“All you young big guys out there, if you’re going to play like a big man, this is the big man you should play like. Roll the tape. Listen, this guy right here, of course, he can do it all. Look, he could have took that jump, but you know what? Use your size and go to the hole for the high percentage shot. Throw it right there. Pump fake. That’s right. Pass. Fundamental basketball. Get it back. Use your size. Mix it up.”

Shaq continued, “Again, I don’t mind you shooting jumper and shooting three. But right here, get easy buckets for yourself. You going to watch any big man. Watch him and watch your joker. But they do a good job of playing. You know, they just don’t rely on the jumper right here. Still trying to get to the hole. AD with some good defense. Oh, I worked with Hakeem this summer. In your face. Victor Wembanyama doing stuff I haven’t seen in a while.”

Victor Wembanyama just showed the world what a true season opener looks like. On Wednesday night, the 7-foot-4 sensation lit up the Dallas Mavericks with a jaw-dropping 40 points and 15 rebounds, powering the San Antonio Spurs to a commanding 125–92 win on the road upsetting their Texas’ rivals.

Wemby turned the floor into his personal highlight reel, leaving fans and stars alike asking just one question: “Did he really just do that?” Well, yes. Yes, he did.

Wemby shot an absurd 15-of-21 from the field, swatted three attempts for good measure, and get this, he didn’t commit a single turnover in 30 minutes. Whether it was dribbling coast-to-coast for a dunk or hitting no-look passes like a point guard, he made the Mavs look completely lost. 

By halftime, he’d already racked up 21 points and eight boards, helping the Spurs close the second quarter on a blistering 15–3 run. One play summed it up: with just under nine minutes left, Wembanyama grabbed a rebound, glided down the court, and hammered home a dunk that silenced the Dallas crowd.

This opener will go down in history. Wembanyama’s 40 points were the most ever scored by a Spur in a season opener, marking his fifth career 40-point game and remember, the kid’s only 21.

Sure, he once dropped 50 against the Wizards last season, but this one just felt different. Coming off an injury-riddled sophomore year where he played only 46 games, Wemby looked sharper, stronger, and more confident than ever on both ends of the floor.

And if you’re wondering whether all the hype is justified? Well, the league has already spoken.

Victor Wembanyama is undeniably the future face of the NBA, as 16 out of 20 surveyed experts- ranging from coaches to executives- have confidently named him the best player by 2030.

Luka Doncic and rising stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jayson Tatum trail behind, but Wembanyama’s meteoric rise, despite recent health challenges, has already solidified his status as the league’s most promising talent.

With his unique skill set and dominance on the court, it’s clear: Wembanyama is not just the favorite- he’s the future.

Even Giannis Antetokounmpo couldn’t help but join the chorus. Speaking to The Athletic’s Brooks Peck, he said, “I think he’s gonna be one of the best players in the league in the next couple of years. I think he will have a very great career moving forward.” And after watching Wemby dismantle Dallas the way he did, it’s hard to argue with that. 

The KD-and-Shaq mix that has Kevin Garnett impressed

This offseason was nothing short of a transformation for Victor Wembanyama. While most players spent their summer in the gym or lounging on beaches, the 7’4” Spurs phenom turned his break into a global bootcamp for greatness.

From meditating with Shaolin monks in China to grinding alongside NBA legends like Kevin Garnett and Hakeem Olajuwon, Wemby’s summer sent one clear message: the league better be ready, because he’s coming for everyone.

One of his biggest offseason highlights? A workout with Kevin Garnett that quickly went viral. Recently, KG praised the young star, giving him a truly unique comparison. “He’s on a journey to seek knowledge. He don’t want to be in that box of the French player, blah, blah, blah. He’s trying to break that whole narrative… Have you seen him in the preseason? He looks like KD and Shaq mixed together, my dog.” 

That session with Garnett wasn’t just another run- it was a mindset shift. When Giannis Antetokounmpo trained with KG years ago, the Greek Freak walked away with a new “warrior mentality” that fueled his rise from a lanky project to a two-time MVP and Defensive Player of the Year. Garnett’s trademark intensity- the demand for relentless effort, focus, and edge- reshaped Giannis’s posture, work ethic, and entire approach to domination.

Now, Wembanyama appears to be following that same blueprint. Like Giannis, he’s a mobile big with guard skills, a player who can create, defend, and destroy from anywhere on the floor. But what’s most striking isn’t just the skill- it’s the hunger. Watching him this preseason, you can see traces of that same fire KG once lit in Giannis: sharper movements, deeper focus, and an unmistakable sense of purpose.

If Giannis’s transformation under Garnett produced an MVP and a champion, Wembanyama’s version of that warrior awakening might just redefine the next era of basketball.

And honestly, he wasn’t wrong. Even Shaq himself once joked last year, “I was Victor Wembanyama before him.” Now? It’s starting to feel a little too real.

It’s no wonder even Kendrick Perkins couldn’t hold back after Wemby’s opening night explosion, tweeting, “The Spurs might have to pay Wemby 5 years 1 Billion in all CASH.” That might sound like an exaggeration, but if you’ve watched him lately, you know it’s not far-fetched.