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Former Nuggets Player Shares Controversial Victor Wembanyama Take

This former Denver Nuggets guard had a controversial take
Former Nuggets Player Shares Controversial Victor Wembanyama Take
Former Nuggets Player Shares Controversial Victor Wembanyama Take

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During a recent episode of the Road Trippin' podcast, former Denver Nuggets guard Jameer Nelson was asked who he would take between 19-year-old Dwight Howard, and 19-year-old Victor Wembanyama. While Nelson was incredibly complimentary the San Antonio Spurs rookie, he went with Howard.

"It is just crazy the fluidity that he has at 7'4", 7'5"," Nelson said. "The closest thing in terms of that we've seen is what, [Kevin Durant]? That moves and is that tall and long. Obviously he has some growing to do and knowing the ins and outs of the NBA game and the physicality, that’s going to be a question mark for him, but for the most part, the talent level is… I don't know if we've seen a dude as close in terms of talent as him since LeBron [James]."

While Nelson admitted he doesn't like comparing eras, he still chose Howard over Wembanyama, and spoke on how special his former Orlando Magic teammate was.

"I don’t like comparing eras, but I can say this. I don’t understand how Dwight isn't a top-75 player all time," Nelson said. "When we were in Orlando together, he was arguably number one or number two in terms of face of the league for a couple of years. For us, as a team, we were always top 1-2 in the league, and that was a big part because of him... I'm taking Dwight."

Nelson's opinion may be controversial, simply because of how highly touted Wembanyama is, but there's no arguing that Dwight Howard was special at that age.

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Joey Linn
JOEY LINN

Joey Linn is a credentialed writer covering the NBA and WNBA for On SI. Covering the LA Clippers independently in 2018, then for Fansided and 213Hoops from 2019-2021, Joey joined On SI to cover the Clippers after the 2020-21 season. Graduating from Biola University in 2022 with a Communication Studies degree, Joey served as Biola's play-by-play announcer for their basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer teams. Joey's work on Biola's broadcasts and in the classroom earned him the Outstanding Communication Studies Student of the year award in 2022. Joey covers the NBA full-time, primarily serving as a Clippers beat writer.