Wemby Might Be the Real Deal
The 2023/24 NBA season is only a few games old and a few familiar patterns are already emerging. James Harden has jumped teams in what will inevitably be another botched attempt to win a title. Dillon Brooks is still writing checks his talent cannot cash. Lebron is still Lebroning.
One of the season’s biggest events has been the debut of Victor Wembanyama with the San Antonio Spurs. The NBA’s current number one draft pick is already showing signs that he might just be everything he’s been touted to be.
Wemby Comes to Town
Victor Wembanyama is a 19-year-old basketball player from Le Chesnay, France. He has been playing pro ball in France since 2019 with various teams at different levels, adding to his hype train along the way. Wemby picked numerous accolades and awards during his French career.
That’s no surprise, though. He’s 7 foot 4 with a damn near eight foot wingspan. Height like that on a basketball court is going to come with a great deal of attention. Fortunately, Wemby isn’t just a sideshow attraction. The kid can actually ball.
When he declared for the 2023 NBA Draft, there was little doubt he was going to take the top spot. The only question was which team would draft him. It turned out to be the San Antonio Spurs, which worked out really well for Wemby,
Gregg Popovich has been the coach of the Spurs since 1996 and has worked with other big name first rounders like David Robinson and Tim Duncan. This is the exact kind of coach who Wemby needs to transition to the style of play in the NBA and to figure out how he fits into it.
What Sets Wemby Apart
The NBA is the land of giants, so Wemby’s height obviously made him an sought after prospect. Many reporters have said that he may be the most intriguing player to hit the league since Lebron James was drafted. That’s saying a lot.
Height is not abnormal in a sport like basketball. We’ve seen exceptionally tall players before. The question is can they put that height to good use, and that has not been the case for some players. What makes Wemby so interesting are his skills.
For his size, Wemby is shockingly agile and quick with the ability to shoot like a guard. Even more impressive is his success from three-point range. Naturally, he is incredible in the paint, both from an offensive and defensive perspective. He blocks a lot of shots.
Even more impressive his how unselfish his game is. For a player of his caliber and age, it would be easy to just be a ball hog. But Wemby passes well and sets solid pick and rolls for his team. Any defender in pursuit has to go a long way to get around Wemby’s wingspan.
The Future
The only real drawback to Wemby’s game right now is his youth. He’s only a few games into his NBA career and has a lot to learn, which is true of any newly drafted player. The learning curve is steep enough for most but they don’t have to deal with the pressure and expectations Wemby has.
That’s where Coach Pop comes in. He’s been coaching the Spurs since Michael Jordan was winning titles with the Bulls. He coached the Spurs to five titles and been named the NBA Coach of the Year on three separate occasions. If anyone can guide Wemby to his full potential, it’s Coach Pop.
It’s also worth noting that the Spurs are a young team overall. As Wemby’s confidence grows and the Spurs coalesce, there is the potential for dominance. Just recently, they managed to pull out an unlikely last second victory over Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns.
That game was a glimpse into the future of the NBA. Wemby, Coach Pop, and the Spurs have an opportunity to develop into one of the most dominant teams in the league. The ceiling for Wemby’s potential is high, with Spurs fans already speculating on their next title reign.
