NBA Legend Shaquille O'Neal Makes Bold Victor Wembanyama Statement
Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs took care of business on Tuesday night in Game 5 of their first-round NBA playoffs series against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Wembanyama led the way for the Spurs as they closed out the series, 4-1, with a 114-95 win. The two-time All-Star finished with 17 points on 5-of-7 shooting and 6-of-6 from the line. Wembanyama also added 14 rebounds, three assists, six blocks and one triple in 34 minutes of action.
It was another strong performance from the 22-year-old as the Spurs punched their ticket to the next round. Wembanyama's inspired outing did not escape the attention of NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal.
O'Neal is widely considered one of the greatest big men to ever play the game. The Hall of Fame center won four championships during his time in the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers and the Miami Heat.
During "Inside the NBA's" postgame program on Tuesday night, O'Neal made his opinion of Wembanyama very clear.
"I think Wemby is the first perfect big man that's ever been created," O'Neal said. "He can shoot, free throws, play defense, play offense. He's a great team player.
"I'm happy for the Spurs. I'm happy for Wemby. And for me, in a long time, he's a joy to watch."
"Wemby is the first perfect big man that's ever created."
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) April 29, 2026
-@Shaq with amazing praise for Victor Wembanyama pic.twitter.com/fN96RbmlPP
For O'Neal to make such a bold statement about Wembanyama says a lot. The 54-year-old is a legend in the sport, and his high praise is a testament to how much respect and admiration Wembanyama has earned from his peers.
Wembanyama and the Spurs will now await their opponents for the Western Conference semifinals. They will face the winner of the series between the Denver Nuggets and the Minnesota Timberwolves. At the moment, it's Minnesota that holds a 3-1 advantage in that matchup.
Related: Spurs Share Victor Wembanyama Update Ahead of Game 3
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This story was originally published April 29, 2026 at 4:33 AM.