Going into this season, Victor Wembanyama is looking to take things further. He comes off winning NBA Defensive Player of the Year and leading the San Antonio Spurs to the NBA Finals.

Beyond that, he received an honor from the ever-talkative Stephen A. Smith.

Smith said to VT Gen Z that Wembanyama is poised to become the new LeBron James. In other words, the face of the NBA.

“I think at this particular moment in time it's Victor Wembanyama,” Smith said. “But up until he arrived, I think you could still make an argument it was LeBron James. I think LeBron James is still the preeminent face in the game based on his credentials, his resume, his lengthy history, but Wembanyama has definitely arrived, and the Wemby era is definitely here even though he just lost in the Finals.”

Since 2003, James has been a huge draw in the NBA. His path from high school basketball phenom in Akron, Ohio, to NBA phenom playing beyond convention is one of legendary proportions.

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While James' game is still strong and his eventual retirement remains out of reach, the new cream of the crop is waiting for its turn.

Wemby embodies that to the fullest. The 7-foot-4 Frenchman is hard to overlook, not just for obvious reasons.

His game reflects the modern NBA, where positionless versatility rules. Wemby is quick, agile, can lock down the paint, and can shoot from 3 when necessary.

An appearance in the Finals is a breakthrough for what lies ahead.