The basketball world is never short of debates, and one of the most enduring questions has always been who stood taller between Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan. Recently, San Antonio Spurs rising star Victor Wembanyama gave his own unexpected take, and it raised eyebrows across fan bases.
During a casual Instagram Live session, Wembanyama was asked to choose between the two legends. His answer leaned toward the Lakers icon rather than the Spurs cornerstone. “Tim Duncan or Kobe? Tough question. Probably Kobe all-time… Eh, actually, I don’t know,” he admitted, offering a candid glimpse into his admiration for Bryant even while wearing a Spurs jersey.
Tim Duncan’s resume speaks for itself. Nineteen seasons in San Antonio, two MVP awards, five championships, and the distinction of being one of the greatest power forwards the sport has ever seen. Known as “The Big Fundamental,” Duncan built his reputation on consistency, quiet dominance, and team-first excellence. For many Spurs fans, he remains the face of their franchise and a standard against which future players are measured.
Bryant’s story, of course, is equally decorated. Five championships with the Lakers, 18 All-Star appearances, and back-to-back Finals MVPs during the 2009 and 2010 title runs. He matched Duncan’s championship tally but added his own aura of flair, competitive fire, and iconic scoring moments that helped define an entire era of NBA basketball. Wembanyama, born in 2004, would have been old enough to watch Bryant’s last peak years, including those unforgettable championship runs. It is not surprising, then, that his answer leaned toward the Mamba.
The two titans crossed paths often. In total, they faced each other 82 times, with 52 of those contests in the regular season and 30 in the playoffs. Duncan claimed the edge during regular matchups with a 31-21 record, but Bryant had the upper hand when the stakes were highest, leading the Lakers to an 18-12 playoff record against San Antonio. Both players left the game with Hall of Fame status, 15 All-NBA selections each, and their legacies intertwined as symbols of excellence in the 2000s.
For Wembanyama, this conversation is part of his own growing journey. At only 21, the French phenom has already made an All-Star appearance and continues to redefine expectations for players his size. In the 2024-25 season, before being sidelined by injury, he averaged 24.3 points, 11 rebounds, and led the league in blocks for the second year in a row at 3.8 per game. Spurs fans view him as the future, the one who could guide the franchise back into playoff contention after years away from the postseason.
His acknowledgment of Bryant over Duncan does not diminish the Spurs legend but highlights the personal influence Bryant’s game still holds over the younger generation of stars. As Wembanyama prepares for the 2025-26 season, the anticipation builds for what his own rivalry with the Lakers might look like. The Spurs have not reached the playoffs since 2019, but with a core of young talent and Wembanyama leading the charge, the story could soon shift.
Great players of the past shaped the standard, and now Wembanyama is writing his own chapter. His comments about Kobe and Duncan remind fans that the debate will never fade, but it also sets the stage for the new battles ahead, where the next generation will carve their place in history.
