As an NBA executive, legendary Jerry West orchestrated draft-day trade that brought five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant to the Los Angeles Lakers. And now, as another young superstar enters the league in Victor Wembanyama, West is comparing the two players.
During an appearance on the Dan Patrick show on Friday, Jerry West compared Victor Wembanyama and Kobe Bryant heading into their rookie seasons, noting that while Wembanyama is obviously taller, Bryant was “more advanced” at that age.
“Kobe was more advanced. He wasn’t that height,” West said on the podcast according to Fox News. “His body was a bit bigger. But they both bring a different kind of excitement to the game, and I’m very hopeful that for the Spurs, and partially for the league, that he will be one of those players that people want to come see because of the uniqueness of the talent.
“Anything that’s good for basketball and particularly the growth of the game, I’m all for it.”
It will certainly be interesting to see whether or not Wembanyama is able to have the same level of immediate success as Bryant did during his first season in the NBA, even though the two players have very different styles of play.
