Only those who are seen as potential competitors are perceived as arrogant. I see this as the difference between authority and authoritarianism. Someone who has authority doesn't need to say they are better or that they must be respected. If they have authority, it's obvious. Others speak for them.
If he's better than Chet and there's no question about it, he wouldn't need to say so. If he says so, it means there's competition.
Only people who are unsure of the authority they might have show arrogance. Arrogance is not a sign of quality, it is a sign of weakness. Parisians are considered arrogant because they have an opinion on everything and perhaps live in the capital of the world, if we take the last five centuries into account. And just saying this is an admission that it is already on the way to being overtaken by other capitals. The French are similarly perceived as arrogant, also when others imagine that they invented three-quarters of the chic and sophisticated things on the planet. Just look at the number of English words composed of “French ***”. So as soon as a French person appears, it's this whole “chic” heritage that shines through. It doesn't take much to confirm the cliché.
If we are less inclined to view Americans through this lens, it is because they have been world leaders since 1945. However, we are increasingly hearing that they are arrogant with China taking the lead and a stupid fascist as president. We already see this with MAGA, a slogan that literally states the obvious. In rhetoric, what we specify is what is not self-evident. Before, America was the world's greatest power, so if we need to say Make America Great Again, we are chasing away the implicit obviousness, and what we are announcing highlights the opposite of what we are trying to say.
Victor only makes a fool of himself when he talks about himself, when he says that when he comes back he'll be the best player in the league, when he says that Chet is no match for him. He's coming back from injury, Victor should understand that these statements are above all an admission of weakness. What we specify is what is not self-evident.
If everyone was convinced that Victor would be the best player once he returned, he wouldn't need to say so. If everyone was convinced that Victor and Chet were two diametrically different talents, he wouldn't need to state the obvious that there's no contest. That's arrogance. And arrogance is the expression of the opposite of what is claimed. There are fools who constantly display arrogance and self-confidence. There's no need to point out their stupidity. Victor is intelligent. But he's also young, he's still developing, and he lacks confidence. He tells himself these things to reassure himself that he is what many think he could be, but is not yet. Rushing things won't make him stronger. It will only reveal his fragility and impatience.
And indirectly, it's likely that the coach understood this and took it into consideration when deciding to start him on the bench. Victor would not have understood the message. San Antonio is neither New York, Los Angeles, nor Paris. Humility is required. And for now, the other players on the team are showing him how much the Spurs play as a team. That's their DNA. He should leave statements about masculinity or power to those who are insecure about it. Otherwise, by the end of the season, he'll be able to walk across Greenland.
I would add a less rhetorical and more psychological explanation. Victor has to be “unique.” Chet and Victor are great skinny inside players with outside skills. We're not talking about talent, we're talking about Victor's uniqueness:
“Are you the only condor on earth?” “Absolutely. Oh, look! An albatross! Isn't it ridiculous!” “But I didn't see it. Couldn't it be another condor?” “No, it's an albatross. I'm the only condor on earth.” “You're right, this condor can fly. You're here, talking and talking.”
Victor is better... yes, well, can he fly as a start? Prove what a condor is capable of doing in the air not in press conferences.
