In case you missed it, wunderkind Victor Wembanyama played basketball this past week—more than once, in fact. If the excitement for Wemby reached fever pitch towards the second half of last season, prepare to be amazed.
He’s gotten even better.
Now said to stand closer to 7’6” than 7’4”, according to Spurs and France national teammate Sidy Cissoko, Wembanyama has made international play look easy, setting a new national team career high in points in several games. He started with 24 against Turkey, then scored 25 against Germany. These were both accomplished while playing less than 20 minutes per game.
The excitement for the Frenchman is palpable, and Spurs nation expects him to be a top player in the league next season, especially with some veteran additions to help spread the floor offensively.
The Rookie of the Year’s impact isn’t just felt offensively, however. He’s arguably the best defensive player in the league already, and his numbers in international play pop off the chart, most notably Turkey’s players shot 4.2% (1-24) as a team while Wemby was on the floor.
Wembanyama’s defensive prowess paid dividends in year one in San Antonio. He’ll continue to make that impact throughout his career, and he’ll only get better. His size alone provides the ability to adjust shots from other teams even if he’s out of position.
It’s his offense that’s the scary part. The fear (for the rest of the league) is that Victor hasn’t even grown into his body yet. His coordination and timing are exponentially better than last season, as evidenced by these games, and his ability to take over a game is already there.
There’s never been another player who’s nearly 7’6” that can shoot the three in transition, can drive and kick, or can play in the post. Good luck, NBA; you’re going to need it.
