Is a 22-year old the best player in the world?

TL;DR

Victor Wembanyama's historically unprecedented defensive impact, combined with sufficient offensive threat, makes him a credible case for the world's best player at 22.

Key Points

• 1.Wembanyama's rim protection is statistically historic. Opponents shoot 19% worse than expected near the basket with him as closest defender; the Spurs hold opponents 17 points below regular-season efficiency this postseason, surpassing the 2004 Pistons' record of 13 points below.
• 2.His block totals undersell his true defensive effect. He set an official playoff record with 12 blocks in Game 1, including a remarkable play where he missed with one hand and still blocked the shot with the other.
• 3.Wemby deters drives before they happen, invisible in box scores. Players like Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle repeatedly stopped short or abandoned paint attacks entirely because of his presence, forcing opponents into lower-value mid-range shots instead.
• 4.His offensive gravity creates real spacing for teammates. Minnesota ran a box-and-one against him, yet double-teams and panic rotations repeatedly freed up Spurs cutters and shooters; Rudy Gobert repeatedly over-committed to Wemby, leaving layup lanes open for others.
• 5.SGA and Jokic are the two main rival candidates, each with clear advantages over Wemby offensively. Jokic and SGA are arguably the two best offensive players in the league — good enough to win multiple MVPs on offense alone — while Wemby cannot yet match their passing, shooting, or consistent scoring.
• 6.His on-court dominance is captured in one remarkable stat. Since February 1st, the Spurs have won Wemby's minutes in 36 of his 37 appearances of at least 15 minutes — losing those minutes just once across nearly half a season of basketball.