Category: Victor Wembanyama

[anyclip pubname=”2123″ widgetname=”0016M00002U0B1kQAF_M8170″]

The entire future of the San Antonio Spurs organization was changed this summer, as they were able to select Victor Wembanyama with the first pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. The 19-year-old French superstar is expected to step in right away and be one of the most impressive rookies in recent memory.

At 7-foot-5 and with a ridiculous eight-foot wingspan, Wembanyama’s absurd physical attributes aren’t the only things that make him unique. The big man can handle the ball, defend the paint, shoot the three-ball, and do almost everything on the basketball court. Can he make NBA history in his rookie season?

According to Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report, Wembanyama has a chance to record the first-ever 6×6 game.

“Only 14 total players in NBA history have recorded a 5×5 game—at least five points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks in the same contest. We’ve never seen a 6×5 game (adding in made three-pointers).

“At least, not until Wembanyama gives us one this season,” Swartz wrote

Swartz thinks Wembanyama’s outside game could help him achieve this feat.

“What should ultimately get Wembanyama to the record is his unique ability to shoot from the outside for someone his size. We’ve already witnessed Wembanyama get hot from deep on American soil when he went 7-of-11 from three in a game against Scoot Henderson and the G League Ignite on Oct. 4, 2022. He should have the green light on a young San Antonio Spurs team in need of an alpha scorer.

“We’ve never seen a prospect quite like Wembanyama before. It would only make sense for him to deliver a stat line never before witnessed in NBA history,” Swartz wrote.

Do you think Wembanyama can put up a statline like this?

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

The San Antonio Spurs were more active than most realize this summer, making a flurry of trades for veteran pieces and retaining some key players. However, the obvious highlight of their summer was the selection of 19-year-old French phenom Victor Wembanyama with the first pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.

Wembanyama is the most highly-touted rookie since LeBron James in 2003. His popularity is through the roof, so much so that the gym was sold out for his first Summer League game. With his height, wingspan, and skillset, he has a chance to be one of the most dominant players in the league.

While speaking with Holger Geschwindner, Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki’s long-time shot doctor, NBA insider Marc Stein learned a lot about Wembanyama. Needless to say, Geschwindner is a big fan. (H/t Jeremy Brener of Inside the Spurs)

[anyclip pubname=”2123″ widgetname=”0016M00002U0B1kQAF_M8170″]

Heading into the summer, all eyes were on the NBA Draft lottery, and once the San Antonio Spurs won it, all eyes shifted to them. They picked Victor Wembanyama with the first pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, as was expected, and have been the center of attention ever since.

However, one of the biggest knocks on the 19-year-old rookie is his scrawny frame, as he’s likely too small to guard traditional centers should he get backed down in the post. At least, that’s the way the Spurs seemingly view it. According to Andrew Lopez in ESPN’s latest NBA power rankings, the Spurs have listed him as a forward.

Because of this, Lopez believes the rookie will be guarding wings next year.

“It’s going to be all about Victor Wembanyama this year for the Spurs, who experimented with different ways to use the No. 1 overall pick during his two-game stint in summer league,” Lopez wrote. “Also of note, the Spurs are listing Wembanyama as a forward on their roster — not a forward/center or center. He’ll certainly have his moments where he plays the five spot, but expect to see him guarding wings as well, as he did in Las Vegas.”

With his length and defensive versatility, Wembanyama should be just fine on the defensive end. To take it a step further, he should grow into one of the most impressive defensive players in the league.

But for the time being, having Zach Collins out there to guard opposing centers while Wembanyama gets accustomed to the league is a smart move.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

[anyclip pubname=”2123″ widgetname=”0016M00002U0B1kQAF_M8170″]

The San Antonio Spurs have been thrust into the spotlight, and as long as Victor Wembanyama is on the team, that’s where they’ll remain, as he’s the magnet drawing it to them. The 19-year-old rookie hasn’t even played in an NBA game, and he’s already the center of attention around the NBA landscape.

Before he ever played even a Summer League game, people were forming lines outside the arenas in Las Vegas just for a chance to watch him play a meaningless game in the middle of July. He’s that much of a superstar. But with all the attention and hype comes an equal amount of hate.

Marilyn Dubinski of Pounding the Rock recently wrote an article urging everyone to “slow down” when it comes to Wembanyana, stating that the immense hate, and hype, need to be quelled for the time being.

“With hype comes haters, haters bring defenders who overhype everything all over again, and the cycle goes on and on.

The good news is Wemby has already proven himself to be mature enough to ignore all the distractions, good or bad, and that’s all that matters, because as long as the offseason drags on without any play to back up either side of the argument, all we will have is hot takes. It is summertime, after all,” Dubinski wrote.

As Dubinski noted, the youngster has been able to ignore most of the attention, which is a useful skill to have. But he’s still a kid. This amount of attention is bound to break through and get to him, regardless of how well he handles it.

Maybe it’s time to slow down and let Wembanyama breathe for a couple of months because once the season starts, that won’t be an option.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]