Metta Sandiford-Artest made a number of odd remarks over the past week
METTA Sandiford-Artest has left NBA fans confused with his Victor Wembanyama remarks.
The Los Angeles Lakers and Indiana Pacers icon said the new San Antonio Spurs star could score over 100 points in a game, beating the legendary Wilt Chamberlain’s elusive record.
Metta Sandiford-Artest has left NBA fans confused with bizarre Victor Wembanyama remarksCredit: Getty
The NBA icon suggested Wembanyama could be the first ever player to score over 100 points in a single gameCredit: Getty
NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain holds the single-game record tally after scoring 100 points against the New York Knicks in 1962Credit: Getty
Wembanyama, 19, entered the NBA as arguably one of the most hyped-up prospects in the league’s history.
The Frenchman backed up the claims he’s a generational talent with a red-hot start to his rookie campaign.
Wemby put up numbers unseen since Shaquille O’Neal’s NBA debut in the first five games of the 2023-24 season, averaging 20.6 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.4 steals, and 2.2 blocks.
During that stretch, the No. 1 pick made a statement with a 38-point performance against the Phoenix Suns on November 2, leading the Spurs to a 132-121 win while facing Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.
The extraordinary showing only fuelled the buzz surrounding the 7-foot-4 center.
A few days later, Sandiford-Artest – previously known as Ron Artest and Metta World Peace – added his two cents to the Wembanyama debate.
“Wem is winning 10 titles potentially. He might win MVP this year. Definitely 1st team All-Defensive and 1st team All-NBA. Potentially the 1st player to be Most Improved as a rookie,” the ex-forward wrote on X.
The excessively courageous take left NBA fans wondering whether Sandiford-Artest, 43, indeed holds Wembanyama in high regard or if he was having a dig at the league-wide excitement over the French phenom.
“Gotta be close to winning the Heisman too if we’re being honest…” one wrote.
“The last one is so insane that it’s perfect,” another added.
“They may as well give him coach of the year while they’re at it,” a third said.
“Man y’all just be saying anything smh 10 titles is crazy,” one wrote.
But Sandiford-Artest didn’t stop there.
“Wem will be the first player to score 101+ in a game. He will surpass Wilt,” the 2010 NBA champion later wrote.
The former Defensive Player of the Year reiterated the claim in two further posts, adding: “Please remember where you heard it first.”
At the same time, Sandiford-Artest stirred up controversy by posting his list of top-five NBA players of all time, initially omitting Lakers star LeBron James.
After backlash, he updated his “top five ever” several times and eventually settled on a list featuring James, Chamberlain, Steph Curry, Michael Jordan, and ex-Lakers teammate Kobe Bryant.
But then, the former NBA star changed his mind again, proclaiming that Spurs legend Tim Duncan was “the greatest NBA player of all time.”
Meanwhile, Wembanyama was hit with “overrated” chants by New York Knicks fans as he struggled during his Madison Square Garden debut earlier this week.
He bounced back two days later, logging 29 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and four blocks against the Minnesota Timberwolves, although San Antonio still lost by seven points.
