According to renowned analysts Brian Windhorst, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett, San Antonio Spurs rookie wonder Victor Wembanyama is already a top-five NBA player and, at 7-foot-4, is somehow more skilled than LeBron James was at his age.

Windhorst, an NBA reporter who has covered the Lakers star since his first season with the Cavaliers in 2003, did not hesitate to rate the 19-year-old Frenchman’s abilities ahead of James’, who is 18 years old.

‘I know they’re extremely different guys,’ Windhorst said to his ESPN co-hosts ahead of Wembanyama’s NBA debut on Wednesday against the Dallas Mavericks. ‘[Wembanyama’s] talent level is far superior to LeBron’s at the same age.’

Pierce compared Wembanyama not only to James, but to the whole NBA, declaring the first-round choice to be one of the league’s top five players.

‘Right now, right now, Wemby is one of the top-five skilled players in the NBA,’ Pierce remarked on Garnett’s Showtime chat program.

Garnett hesitated to agree before reviewing Wembanyama’s preseason highlights with Pierce, his longstanding former teammate.

‘He showed me the handle, he showed me the step back, he showed me the lob, the pick-and-roll threat – the pick-and-roll and the pick-and-pop threat – he showed me he can get the it in traffic and dump over everybody,’ Pierce said.

Garnett emphasized that Wembanyama is still learning and hasn’t reached his full potential.

‘He’s just playing,’ remarked Garnett. ‘He has no idea what he’s doing.’

To emphasize his case, Garnett stated that the Spurs’should make the playoffs’ due to Wembanyama’s overall abilities.

‘He got it, and it ain’t no ordinary s***,’ Garnett explained.

Wembanyama is undoubtedly the most talked-about NBA prospect since James left his Akron, Ohio high school in 2003 to enter the NBA Draft.

Wembanyama averaged 19.25 points in 21 minutes of action per night in four preseason games.

Furthermore, he had 19 rebounds and 11 blocks during that time despite accumulating only six personal fouls.