Shaquille O’Neal invents new nickname for Victor Wembanyama

The San Antonio Spurs are on cloud nine after Victor Wembanyama carried them to a 125-118 double overtime victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.

He scored 41 points and grabbed 24 rebounds, as well as hitting a clutch 3-pointer in the first overtime with 27 seconds left. On Tuesday, former player-turned-analyst Shaquille O’Neal was so impressed by Wemby’s heroics that he gave him a new nickname, per NBA on ESPN.

O’Neal paid homage to two former Spurs legends in the process.

“[Wemby’s] American name is Tim Robinson,” he said. “He played like Tim Duncan and David Robinson mixed.”

“[Wemby’s] American name is Tim Robinson. He played like Tim Duncan and David Robinson mixed.”

Shaq reacts to Victor Wembanyama’s Game 1 performance vs the Thunder

(via @ESPNNBA) pic.twitter.com/kChMomq5PS

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In the 1990s, Duncan and Robinson were the faces of the Spurs. They helped put the organization on the map as one of the fiercest dynamic duos of their era. Robinson was “the Admiral” who played from 1989 to 2003. Duncan joined the team in 1997 out of Wake Forest and played until 2016.

Both led the Spurs to the NBA championship in 1999 and 2003. Duncan went on to win three more titles in 2005, 2007, and 2014.

Meanwhile, Wembanyama continues to surpass and reset the standard for excellence in San Antonio. In February, he joined Duncan and Robinson as the only players in franchise history to score 20 points, grab 15 rebounds, block five shots, and grab eight offensive rebounds in a game.

He then impressed them both with a strong performance in Game 1 of the first round series against the Portland Trail Blazers. He recorded 35 points in a 111-98 victory.

If all goes according to plan, Wemby might join Duncan and Robinson in the category of NBA champions.

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