Kevin Durant’s Reaction to Victor Wembanyama’s Big Game Was 100% Class

The Suns star had nothing but respect for the performance put on by the Spurs rookie in Phoenix on Thursday night.

Suns star Kevin Durant had nothing but respect for Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama’s breakout 38-point performance in San Antonio’s 132–121 win at Phoenix on Thursday night.

Afterward, Durant was asked whether there’s any comparison between his game and Wembanyama’s in the wake of the rookie’s big game.

“I know that we both skinny, and I’m sure he said he watched me growing up. But he’s his own player,” Durant said. “I’m sure he’s watched so many great players in the league and tried to emulate just about everybody.

“There’s an enthusiasm with the game. You can tell on the TV and playing against him. He’s his own player, person. He’s gonna create his own lane, much different than anybody who’s ever played. You can try to compare but he’s gonna carve out his own lane.” 

“He’s his own player, person. He gon’ create his own lane, much different than anybody who’s ever played.”

Kevin Durant was asked about Victor Wembanyama comparisons to himself, and gave Wemby high praise: pic.twitter.com/0KmfiobDJc

— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) November 3, 2023

Durant’s teammate and co-star Devin Booker echoed KD’s sentiment about Wembanyama’s game and was equally as mesmerized by the rookie.

“He’s an unbelievable talent. Everybody knows that,” Booker said. “Just trying to figure out what he is, because we’ve never seen him before.”

Devin Booker on Victor Wembanyama: “He’s an unbelievable talent. Everybody knows that. Just trying to figure out what he is, ‘cause we’ve never seen him before.” pic.twitter.com/f8vMk2xAXv

— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) November 3, 2023

Wembanyama scored 38 points on 15-of-26 shooting from the floor. He hit three of his six three-point attempts, grabbed 10 rebounds and blocked two shots. With the game tied at 116 with 4:15 to play in the fourth quarter, Wembanyama went on to outscore the entire Suns team 10–5 over the closing stretch to lift the Spurs to their third win of the season.

Wembanyama is back on the floor Sunday when the Spurs (3-2) play host to the Raptors (2-4) in San Antonio at 3:30 p.m. ET.