The wonder of Wemby
HAT do you call the tallest player on the court that shoots and dribbles like a guard, defends like a center, lobs threes like a small forward and the basketball Iq of a superstar, a player that can do it all? The answer is plain and simple — San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama.
The 7-foot-four rookie center from France has lived up to the lofty expectations and hype ever since he became the center of attention in October 2022 when his French pro basketball club, the Metropolitans 92, played two exhibition games against the NBA G League Ignite in Las Vegas. Wemby recorded 37 points, five blocks and four rebounds in front of 200 NBA scouts and executives in the first game followed by 36 points and 11 rebounds in the second.
Since then, every NBA team in the lottery was salivating to get Wemby, but luck went the way of the Spurs. Currently, he is averaging nearly 21 points per game, 10.2 rebounds and leads the league in blocked shots (3.3) in under 29 minutes. He looks to be the runaway Rookie of the Year.
His skill set has never been seen before that many call him an “alien” as he continues to do out-of-thisworld things. Every game day, he seemingly breaks a new record.
Just over two weeks ago, he posted a rare triple double with 27 points, 14 rebounds and 10 blocks to go with five assists. In the past 40 years, the only players to record at least 25 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and 10 blocks in a game are Hakeem Olajuwon and David Robinson.
Recently, he recorded a 5X5 game against the Los Angeles Lakers with 27 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists, five blocks and five steals. Last Thursday, Wembanyama became the first player in league history to record 25+ points, 10+ rebounds, 5+ assists, 5+ blocks and 5+ 3PM in a game.
He is slowly transforming the norms of NBA stats with his impact on both ends of the floor. What makes it more significant is that this is only his rookie season (at 20 years old).
Already, Wemby is one of the top 15 to 20 players in the NBA and he is projected to break out and join the ranks of the elite top 10 players in a few years’ time as his game matures. With his gifts, his ceiling is unlimited and without getting too far ahead of ourselves and barring serious injuries, he can even join the greatest-of-all-time debates soon.
Still, the Spurs are taking it easy on him as he is still placed under some minute restrictions after a couple of ankle injuries. With a 12-48 win-loss record, the team have the luxury of getting Wemby acclimatized to the rigors of an NBA season while getting him the experience of playing against the best players in the world.
The Spurs will have a ton of money next year to spend plus they are looking to be in the lottery to get a high pick as they build around Wemby. He is ready to be a superstar and bring San Antonio back to the playoffs. All he needs now are good enough teammates to get him there.