Julius Erving identifies Victor Wembanyama as catalyst for center position resurgence

NBA legend Julius Erving projects that San Antonio Spurs standout Victor Wembanyama will shift the league back toward dominance by interior players. While guards and forwards have held the primary influence in MVP conversations since the 1980s, Erving suggests Wembanyama possesses the ability to reverse this multi-decade trend. The 22-year-old center finished third in recent MVP balloting and earned unanimous Defensive Player of the Year honors after averaging 25.0 points and 11.5 rebounds per game. His defensive presence, anchored by a league-high 3.1 blocks per game, highlights his role among an emerging group of modern big men. Although Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, and Giannis Antetokounmpo remain established contenders, Wembanyama is now positioned as a primary threat to the current guard-dominated narrative. His selection as a cover athlete for NBA 2K27 further signals his growing prominence as a face of the league.

• 2:17 AMYahoo Sports — Julius Erving: Victor Wembanyama Will Bring Back NBA Centers’ Lost Glory