Kendrick Perkins Admires Victor Wembanyama for ‘Caring’ Unlike Current ‘Entitled’ Players

Victor Wembanyama's emotional reactions are unlike what NBA players have been in the past several years.

Kendrick Perkins Admires Victor Wembanyama for ‘Caring’ Unlike Current ‘Entitled’ Players

Kendrick Perkins and Victor Wembanyama (Image via FirstSportz)

In today’s NBA, many discussions have taken place on how players feel they are entitled and find their jobs as just a part of their journey in life. Victor Wembanyama is also part of the same league, but does not operate similarly.

The Frenchman is known for having his own regimen, which includes reading books and stopping the use of his phone or even television after a certain time in a day.

He is also revered for sleeping early and taking care of his body. The latter part is also something other players do, but the lanky center’s dedication is akin to a certain LeBron James.

Time and again, former players have asked why current athletes do not invest in their bodies the way the King does. But Victor Wembanyama does so, even though he has had a scare or two of his own.

However, after winning the Western Conference title, the basketball world saw a version of the San Antonio Spurs superstar that is absent in today’s sport.

He cared about winning the NBA cup. Let’s start there… He cared about competing in the All-Star game. He actually give a damn at 7’5 about competing in a dunk contest… And so when I see a guy win the NBA, the conference finals, and he’s crying, and he’s happy and he’s joyful, he’s jumping around, name a time that we’ve seen that over the last four or five years. We haven’t.

Kendrick Perkins said on the Road Trippin’ Show

Even though his former championship-winning teammate has criticized this outpouring of emotions, Kendrick Perkins believes that the 22-year-old proved with his tears how much it means to him. That is absent from most of today’s players.

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Malika Andrews points to Victor Wembanyama’s struggles to justify his emotional reaction

After Kendrick Perkins opened this discussion, guest cast member and his colleague on ESPN, Malika Andrews, butted in with some pointers on why Victor Wembanyama shows his emotions.

7'4 Victor Wembanyama can get injured more than his shorter teammates
7’4 Victor Wembanyama can get injured more than his shorter teammates (Image via Spurs/X)

Remember how much Victor has been through being so young. His season was cut short with the blood clot. That’s something that can end people’s careers.

Malika Andrews said

The NBA Today host pointed out that maybe the reigning Defensive Player of the Year is aware that due to his height, he may suffer from career-ending injuries a lot earlier, and a lot more than a LeBron James.

Athletes that tall struggle, and Wemby, knowing that, explains why he probably felt relieved to have achieved something. Andrews also pointed out that other players do not ’emote’ as Victor Wembanyama does.

Having suffered what could have been a career-ending injury probably made him let it all out when he realized the magnitude of what he achieved after reaching the NBA Finals.

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Former champion points out how Victor Wembanyama’s emotions are drawing fans back to the NBA

After the cast of Road Trippin’ Show discussed what led Victor Wembanyama to ‘care’ so much about competing and winning, Channing Fry revealed how it has impacted fans.

When he hit that 40-footer, they (Fry’s daughters) ran around my backyard, screaming for him. His being present, it captivates and motivates people to watch basketball.

Channing Fry said

The former champion added that his two daughters do not watch a full game of basketball. But because of Wemby, they took an interest in watching the Conference Finals. That should explain why television ratings were setting new landmarks, and continue to do so.

Fry believes that the young Spurs center is showing the world how he is, and fans are loving it, as they now have a player who is showing his intelligent and vulnerable side, something that has been absent.

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