The NBA never stops for anyone, and Victor Wembanyama is no different. The Spurs youngster is already changing the face of the game. But some fans and analysts are already looking for the post-Wemby era, where it will be the next generation of impact big men.
The San Antonio Spurs youngster is about to make a comeback on the court, following a break from the season, due to a blood clot in his right shoulder, after being diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis. The injury-induced absence also meant that he missed out on being the Defensive Player of the Year award, where the Frenchman was a favourite.
While he has a long career ahead of himself, Wemby is a generational talent, who can face hindrances due to injuries that may limit his dominance. But there are youngsters who are also taking note of it, as they continue their development to become the next-face of the upcoming NBA generation.
Evan Mobley
The 23-year-old Cleveland Cavaliers power forward/center was awarded the 2024–25 NBA Defensive Player of the Year. The award also meant that Mobley became the first in Cavaliers history to win the coveted title. According to StatMuse, Mobley averaged 18.5 points, 9.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 71 games in 2024-25. He was also selected to play in his first All-Star game, making him an elite two-way force.
He played a significant role in the campaign of Cleveland Cavaliers to bag the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. His defensive presence on the court makes him one of the candidates to lead the post-Wemby era of dominant big men.
Alperen Şengün
At a mere age of 22, Alperen Şengün crafted himself as a cornerstone for the Houston Rockets in the 2024-25 season. The Turkish youngster averaged 19.1 points, 10.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 76 games in 2024-25. It earned him the selection to play in his first All-Star game.
During the playoffs against the Golden State Warriors, Şengün averaged 20.9 PPG, 11.9 RPG, and 5.3 APG over a period of seven games. The games also witnessed his four triple-doubles, while being a top rebounder and assist maker.
The Turkey national became the youngest center in NBA history to clock 1,000 career assists. He recorded this feat alongside scoring 4,000 points, 2,000 rebounds within 250 games. His prowess in the court makes him a strong candidate for the post-Wemby era.
Dereck Lively II
Dereck Lively II had an early end to the 2024-25 season due to a series of setbacks. This includes a stress fracture, that required a surgery for bone spurs. But despite featuring in a total of 36 games for the Dallas Mavericks this season, he averaged 8.7 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists.
This was enough for Lively to feature in the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. He was also a central part of the Dallas Mavericks squad in the 2023-24 season, where they ended up in the NBA Finals, before losing to the Boston Celtics.
But the defeat did not dent Dereck Lively II’s potential of being a fundamental part of Mavericks’ defense in the coming years. If fully healthy, blended with his defensive timing and rim protection skills, Lively can be your next face in the post-Wemby era.
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