'He's From Mars!' Jazz PF John Collins Praises Spurs' Victor Wembanyama

Everywhere he goes, San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama receives praise from competitors.

During the 2015-16 NBA Season, every team, every city, and seemingly every player gave tribute to Kobe Bryant during his farewell tour. His impact on basketball was not understated, and after every game press conferences included endless quotes surrounding Bryant and his legacy on the game. 

This season, the San Antonio Spurs and Victor Wembanyama have had the same effect. However, players aren't offering praise for a career filled with success, but are instead issuing warnings to fans that Wemby is here and will be running the league soon.

Victor Wembanyama Jazz
Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports

Of course, the added advantage of playing under Gregg Popovich only adds to the Wemby mania. 

After besting the Spurs on Sunday night, Utah Jazz forward John Collins sounded off on his impressions of the French star.

“You are not from France, you are from Mars,” Collins said postgame. “Victor’s going to be a great player in this league.”

To issue a slight correction, Wembanyama is already a great player who routinely puts up historical box scores, but the point is well-taken. The awe and mystique that surrounds a 20-year-old rookie is the NBA's greatest traveling media act since Bryant's farewell tour and will only be bested when LeBron James decides his time is coming unless he opts to quietly ride into the sunset. 

During the game, Collins, who was mic'd up, was heard saying that Wembanyama is from Mars, not France, which pushes the "alien" brand that Wembanyama is cultivating. 

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Collins is a solid NBA player who is a constant double-double threat, and Spurs fans should be elated that players from all corners of the league are heaping on praise for the talented rookie. 


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Jonah Kubicek
JONAH KUBICEK

Jonah Kubicek has been writing about the NBA since 2021, covering the Pistons, Jazz, Spurs, Magic, Rockets, and Knicks. As a lifelong Spurs fan living in Michigan, he never misses an opportunity to bring up the 2005 NBA Finals (you should have guarded Horry!). He is a long-suffering Tigers fan and closely follows the NFL, although he never found an affinity for the Lions. Jonah graduated from Oakland University with a degree in History and spends his spare time playing tennis or reading. Follow Jonah on Twitter for updates on Tre Jones and other NBA news.