Friday Faceoff: Which superstar big man do you take now — the Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama or Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic?

Paul Klee, sports editor

Answer: Joker

With all due respect to my friend Vinny Buckets, the basketball world’s rush to crown Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama is a classic case of recency bias.

This is Wemby’s moment. And all of ball is a prisoner of the moment.

Shoot, I even heard the KSE homers on the Altitude Sports morning show opting for Wemby. Did I just imagine a Jokic season in which he averaged a triple-double and led the NBA in rebounds and assists as a center? 

Yes, Wemby is a once-in-forever talent. And you know what I love most about the 22-year-old? He hates losing more than he loves winning. Respect. Save me a couch cushion for the next decade of Wemby action ball in south Texas.

But ball don’t lie: In their past three matchups, Joker averaged 42.3 points, 11.6 rebounds and 10.6 assists. Wemby was awesome, too, with 29.6 points, 19.6 boards, 4.6 assists and the edge on ‘D’ — unless he was guarding Joker.

The main reason I take Joker without hesitation? He takes a licking and keeps on ticking. And Wemby’s on the ground. A lot. Watch Game 3 of the Western Conference finals Friday night. Big fella is always on the ground.

The past two seasons Wemby’s missed 36 and 18 games. Jokic has never missed 18 games in a season. His most was 17, this season. That’s durable.

Joker or Wemby? Tough call, and a fun one. The day will come when Wemby’s the undisputed man. But it’s not today.

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Vinny Benedetto, Nuggets writer

Answer: Wemby

Nikola Jokic’s reign as the league’s most untouchable player ended unceremoniously.

In the days since the Nuggets’ season ended April 30 in Minneapolis, the Spurs’ 22-year-old extraterrestrial snatched the crown by doing what Jokic couldn’t — take down the Timberwolves. He did it by putting up numbers that are peak Jokic; 39 points and 15 rebounds in a Game 3 win over Minnesota and 27 points, 17 rebounds and 5 assists to give the Spurs a 3-2 lead in the second-round series.

All he’s done in the Western Conference finals is steal home-court advantage from the Thunder with a 41-point, 24-rebound masterpiece in Game 1.

Jokic is still the game’s best offensive player, and it’s not close. That same can be said of Wembanyama on the other end. The difference is Wembanyama’s a better offensive player than Joker is a defender, and he’s much younger.

When Wembanyama refines parts of his offensive game, teams are going to be helpless. He’s already a serviceable shooter from beyond the arc and at the line. Rudy Gobert made Jokic look human for the first time in a long time.

Denver’s front office doesn’t answer any call about a Jokic trade unless the number starts with 210 or 726. As much as Josh Kronke reiterated trading Jokic was the only thing that’s off the table this offseason, Denver’s president would be a fool to ignore a call from San Antonio if it ever came.

Welcome to Wemby’s world. We’re just living it.