Even as Victor Wembanyama continues his sensational rise and carries the San Antonio Spurs deep into the 2026 playoffs, a pointed conversation on the Road Trippin’ podcast has delivered a reality check that has echoed throughout the NBA landscape.
Former NBA players and podcast hosts Richard Jefferson, Channing Frye, and Kendrick Perkins were asked a straightforward but revealing question: Who would you rather guard — Steph Curry or Victor Wembanyama? The answer was unanimous and emphatic.
“I’d defend Wemby any day over Steph,” Jefferson stated. “Give me Wemby, 100 percent.”
Frye quickly agreed: “No offense, yeah, give me Wemby. Bro, I couldn’t even get on the court when Steph was out there.”
Perkins added simply, “Steph’s different.”
The veterans’ preference for guarding the 7-foot-4 alien from France over the 38-year-old Golden State Warriors icon speaks volumes about the unique defensive challenge Curry still presents, even at this stage of his career.
The Nightmare of Guarding Steph
While Wembanyama has looked unstoppable at times during the postseason, the physicality of Oklahoma City Thunder bigs Isaiah Hartenstein and Jaylin Williams has shown that the rookie sensation can be slowed. In contrast, Curry’s genius lies in movement, spacing, and an almost supernatural shooting range that remains virtually unlimited.
Richard Jefferson, who faced Curry many times during his own playing career, elaborated on what makes the two-time MVP so uniquely difficult to game-plan for.
“Steph is one of the greatest of all time,” Jefferson explained. “Everybody’s different, but if you told me which one is harder to game plan currently, now eventually, Wemby could be up there with the greatest to ever do it. Right now, from what you see, you don’t want to see Steph.”
Jefferson also highlighted the systemic advantage Curry benefits from in Golden State’s motion offense, particularly when paired with shooters like Klay Thompson.
“If you make a mistake on Steph, his teammates succeed because of their motion offense,” he said. “So if you make a mistake on Steph, three guys run to him, he might not get the shot, but they’ve got two guys open behind him. So that’s where it’s just unguardable.”
This layered offensive gravity is something few players in league history have ever matched.
Wemby’s Brilliance and the Road Ahead
That said, Wembanyama continues to produce moments that fuel legitimate GOAT conversations for the future. In Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals against the Thunder, with the Spurs trailing by three in overtime, the 22-year-old pulled up just past halfcourt and drained a clutch three-pointer. The shot bore a striking resemblance to Curry’s iconic game-winner in the same building on February 27, 2016 — a moment that helped symbolize the league’s shift into a three-point era.
Wembanyama may not yet possess Curry’s shooting consistency or off-ball movement mastery, but his blend of size, skill, and shot-making suggests he is on a trajectory that could eventually place him among the all-time greats.
At 38 and dealing with a runner’s knee issue in the second half of the season, Curry has shown signs of mortality. Yet his basketball IQ, leadership, and ability to bend defenses remain elite. The podcast consensus reflects a truth many around the league quietly acknowledge: right now, guarding Steph Curry is still one of the toughest assignments in basketball.
The Bigger Picture
The debate doesn’t diminish Wembanyama’s arrival. The Spurs star has already transformed the franchise and announced himself as a generational talent. However, it serves as a timely reminder that Steph Curry’s influence on the game — and the difficulty he poses to opponents — has not faded.
For now, the veteran voices have spoken clearly. In the current NBA landscape, when forced to choose, even battle-tested former players would rather line up against the 7-foot-4 phenom than chase the greatest shooter the league has ever seen.
The Alien has landed. But the Chef is still cooking.