Imagine being endorsed by Magic Johnson not once, but twice. Back in 2023, when Victor Wembanyama entered the league, Magic said, “The hype is real. He will probably make an impact like LeBron did when he first came into the league. This young man is special. … He’s a league changer and a franchise changer.” Experts agree that Wemby’s combination of size, agility, and shooting range is unprecedented for a 7-foot-4 player. Magic’s prediction has since turned out to be true, and how. Unsurprisingly, the Spurs star has done it again.

After last night’s match against Dallas, the NBA legend was once again vindicated as Victor Wembanyama put on a scintillating display. “Victor Wembanyama will have an MVP-type season because he’s noticeably stronger, can take physical contact, and can still put the ball in the hoop, as we witnessed last night. Victor worked out with NBA Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon over the summer, and we saw the Hakeem effect last night when he did the dream shake and shot 4-5 jump shots off one foot like Hakeem used to do,” Magic wrote on X.

Magic even witnessed the game alongside Wembanyama’s father and posted a photo with the caption: “Look who I was hanging out with before his son Victor put on a show and dropped 40 and 15 on the Dallas Mavericks, Felix Wembanyama!”

Wemby’s solid 40-point performance against the Dallas Mavericks has definitely captured all hearts, putting him on the MVP run with stars like Luka Doncic. It is a clear signal that Magic’s early hype was just the beginning.

The “Hakeem effect” Magic mentioned was tangible. For a player once labeled too slender for NBA physicality, his composure and control now reflect a transformation. And rightly so, because he worked for it.

Over the offseason, Wembanyama worked closely with Hall of famer, Hakeem Olajuwon outside Houston, He focused on footwork, leverage, and post moves. Even developing his own variation of the legendary “Dream Shake.” At 62, Olajuwon moved with his signature precision.

It left Wembanyama visibly inspired. “His advice felt natural. Even though it was a lot, it felt like I was absorbing it every day,” Wembanyama said. “It looked like it was a pleasure for him to teach. I would want to go again for sure.”

And the hardwork was on full display last night. His improved strength allowed him to finish through defenders like PJ Washington and Anthony Davis. In that sense, Johnson’s words feel more like a recognition that Wembanyama has already begun to deliver on the prophecy made two years ago.

Wembanyama is already showing why he could be the best

At just 21, Wembanyama is rewriting what a generational talent can accomplish. The buzz that the San Antonio Spurs center would one day dominate the league was already there. On Wednesday, he showed it why or rather how. Apart from the 40 points, he pulled down 15 rebounds, and blocked three shots.

It was a show that every NBA analyst dreams of witnessing. ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins even joked on X that the Spurs may need to pay him a billion dollars in five years, just by looking at the speed of his growth.

The way Wemby has prioritized self work goes way beyond the training with Olajuwon. He worked on his inner energy as much as he improved his footwork. He traveled to a Shaolin temple in China, studied meditation.

“I can assure you nobody has trained like I did this summer,” Wembanyama said. “I think I’ve maxed out what I could do in one offseason. Now, I need to play basketball.” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson noted his intensity: Wembanyama is “so intentional in the variety of ways that he tries to improve as a player and person,”. 

Fans of Wembanyama are convinced he will win MVP of the year, and it was only his first game of the season. In an after game press conference, the French man reflected on how the timing made all the difference. “If I could have been, if I was able to do that when I was 19 years old or 16 years old, whenever, I would have done it. I mean, I would have tried to do it,” he said.

“But there’s some things that just take time, and I’m able to do it now. The proof is there, so there’s no reason to not do it.”, the leading scorer for Spurs continued.

“I felt like I needed to make a statement to my teammates. It’s also just the beginning because there’s so much more I want to add to my game, but some things take time and maturity.” He is already unstoppable, and his intentions are well reflected in the game he showcases every time.