What to expect this season

ESPN's NBA Rankings is back for its 14th season and ranks the league's best players. It's no surprise that San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama is at the top of the list after an absurd rookie season.

Here's what ESPN had to say about Wembanyama and his placement heading into the 2024-25 season:

With a year of experience under his belt, the 2023 No. 1 pick ranks No. 1 on this list. The unanimous 2023-24 Rookie of the Year has had a historic first season in the NBA, putting up numbers that compare favorably to Spurs Hall of Fame greats David Robinson and Tim Duncan. This season, Wemby will have plenty of opportunities to lob dunk as he now works with future Hall of Fame point guard Chris Paul. Wembanyama should look to surpass the 254 blocks he posted last season to secure his first NBA All-Star nomination, while also jumping straight into the MVP conversation.

– Michael Wright, ESPN

Wembanyama's rise to No. 11 is impressive, especially given his meteoric jump from No. 47 last year.

After being unanimously named the 2023-24 Rookie of the Year, he showcased his incredible shot-blocking ability and all-around dominance on both ends of the floor in his historic debut season.

While ESPN's ranking of Wembanyama at No. 11 seems appropriate, some might consider it a conservative estimate.

Given his potential and the progress he made in his rookie season, Wembanyama could easily become a top-five player or even the best two-way player in the NBA as early as this season.

His ability to dominate both offensively and defensively makes him a unique talent who can quickly rise up the rankings.

If the hype surrounding Wembanyama continues to match his performance on the court, don't be surprised if he rises to the top of the NBA rankings after this season.

As the centerpiece of the Spurs' future, Wembanyama is ready to lead San Antonio back into contention and establish himself as a perennial MVP candidate.

At the moment, No. 11 feels like a healthy baseline for Wembanyama, but his ceiling? It's much higher. As his second season approaches, the sky is the limit for the young phenom.