LeBron James famously debuted for the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2003-04 season, and he did so as the team's shooting guard. James played in 79 of 82 games in his age-19 season, mainly at guard, and fantasy basketball managers certainly enjoyed the numbers.
James averaged 20.9 PPG, 5.5 RPG and 5.9 APG, but there was always a sense that things would get considerably better in Year 2. They sure did, and for every season after that and still going, perhaps partly because the Cavaliers quickly realized James was better suited to play small forward.
Fast forward 20 years later and it is the San Antonio Spurs boasting the next teenage superstar in Victor Wembanyama.
The French prodigy is 7-foot-4, among the tallest players in the sport, but coach Gregg Popovich and the Spurs, perhaps in an effort to ease his defensive duties and dalliances with stronger, wider, rougher centers, mainly deployed the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft at power forward for his first 19 games. His numbers were excellent, as he averaged 18.9 PPG, 9.7 RPG and 2.6 BPG.
Moving to center
Something important changed last week. Popovich moved the larger, bulkier, slower C Zach Collins to the bench, opening up the floor for Wembanyama to handle center duties.
For the past three games, including Wednesday night's tight loss to James' Los Angeles Lakers (James sat this one out to rest), Wembanyama has averaged 22 PPG, 17 RPG and 5 BPG. He scored 30 traditional points against the Lakers and hit 4-of-5 3-pointers, including two in the final minute as the Spurs nearly rallied for a stunning win.
Wembanyama averages 43.7 fantasy points per game this season, 21st in the league, but he has scored 62, 48 and a whopping 75 fantasy points against Lakers C Anthony Davis on Wednesday, in three contests as a center.
One can draw a modest parallel between James and Wembanyama in that their franchises -- the world, really -- knew they had something special, but perhaps they were not initially sure which position on the court would best showcase their ridiculous talents.
James flourished in his second season, averaging 27.2 PPG. He has been a forward ever since, save for a run early in his Lakers career when the team coveted more traditional point guard play, and James was eager to prove he could handle that and, really, any, role. Regardless of whom you believe is the best player in NBA history, there has been nobody quite like LeBron James.
After only 22 games, it sure looks like there is nobody quite like Wembanyama, too.
The wins... will take time
The early returns on his work at center are glowingly positive, as the team's spacing is considerably better sans a second center on the court (Collins is 6-foot-11, 250 pounds), with more freedom for Wembanyama to roam, as his long strides permit him to make up ground quite quickly on unsuspecting defenders.
The paint is his, but he can guard at the 3-point line and block shots there, too. Put simply, and nothing against the veteran Collins, but Wembanyama appears more comfortable at center at each end of the floor. The numbers look better, too.
The Spurs, of course, head into Friday night's rematch with the Lakers having lost 18 consecutive games after a 3-2 start, but the way Wembanyama led them back with a 45-point fourth quarter on Wednesday was quite striking, offering immediate optimism things will improve soon. The Spurs are not winning, but this is hardly Wembanyama's fault.
Other than playing his top pick beside Collins in a crowded frontcourt, Popovich has made other strange lineup decisions the first two months, notably with forcing PF/PG Jeremy Sochan into a point guard role he may or may not grow into rather than rely on veteran Tre Jones.
Meanwhile, the team's other top scorers, SF Keldon Johnson and SF/SG Devin Vassell, have been inconsistent and do not project as building block players. Vassell averages 17.6 PPG, but his role continues to fluctuate from starter to reserve.
LeBron's Cavaliers missed the playoffs in his first season, going 35-47, and their rookie star was easily the best player on the underwhelming team. Nobody else on the Cavs averaged 16 PPG. Veterans Carlos Boozer and Zydrunas Ilgauskas dominated the frontcourt, Jeff McInnis ran point after being acquired from Portland for Darius Miles. James was raw, but he did not lack for usage or shots. The Cavaliers were playoff bound by his third season, and they advanced to the NBA Finals in his fourth year.
Wembanyama, despite gaudy statistics, remains raw as well, desperate to add weight to his lanky frame, and fantasy managers should absolutely presume he takes a large step up in production by his second season, especially if the Spurs, headed for another lottery pick, add significant talent in the draft.
A natural point guard who can break down defenses and accentuate a big man's skills, someone like USC's Isaiah Collier would seem to fit well in San Antonio. Wembanyama also averages 3.5 turnovers per game, eighth in the league. James averaged the same figure his first season, which was fifth in the league.
Final thoughts
The main parallel between James and Wembanyama is that even after barely a quarter of this NBA season, it is clear that the latter has joined the former as a generational basketball player and dynasty fantasy option, capable of feats the league has never seen before.
Fantasy managers made Wembanyama a second-round pick in ESPN average live drafts (18th overall), and he enters Friday at No. 16 in points league scoring. He will rise as he becomes more efficient in his shooting and avoids turnovers, becomes more comfortable at his new position.
We said the same things about James 20 years ago.