Victor Wembanyama’s Debut: Is He Really the Greatest Prospect Ever?
Analyzing Victor Wembanyama’s First NBA Summer League Game
The wait has finally ended, Victor Wembanyama, deemed the best basketball prospect ever by many, has finally got his first taste of the NBA. Last night, in a Summer League matchup between the San Antonio Spurs and the Charlotte Hornets, Wembanyama faced off against №2 pick Brandon Miller.
Based on Wemby’s extremely high betting lines and prior experience against professionals, you’d think he’d be able to dominate against other young players. But you’d think wrong. In front of a sold-out Las Vegas crowd, he finished the game with a measly stat line of nine points and eight rebounds on a horrible 2–of-13 shooting (around 15%).
So what happened? Why did Victor Wembanyama, the seemingly 7-foot-5 demigod, struggle so much? There really is no one reason to point to which explains his struggles. Maybe it was him getting used to the NBA’s pace or the massive hype surrounding this game. Most likely it was a combination of lots of different factors. So can we already call Wembanyama a bust?
No.
Calling a player a bust after one Summer League game, where no one is really trying is an extreme overreaction. In fact, Wembanyama, other than his offensive struggles, had a very impressive game. He showed how can impact the floor in a variety of ways, even if his shots aren’t falling.
Wembanyama’s Elite Defensive Ability
As I said earlier, Victor Wembanyma showed how good he really is in the other facets of the game. During the game, he racked up five blocks, which is one shy of the summer league record. You could really see how the Hornets players were trying to avoid being rejected by Wemby when they came into the paint. There were also many possessions where he was called for a weak foul and blocked the shot afterward, which would have only added to his totals
But the most surprising part of Wemby’s defensive abilities is his perimeter defense. For most of the game, he was matched up against Charlotte’s second-overall pick Brandon Miller, who is a 6-foot-9 forward. Miller is extremely quick and can shoot the ball from practically anywhere, but Victor was able to completely dominate him on the defensive end, holding him to 5-of-15 from the field.
Wembanyama’s lateral movement is something that you would only see in elite defenders. He was even able to block a three-point attempt from Miller. In the future, don’t be surprised if you see Wembanyama end up as the best defender in the league.
Wembanyama’s Playmaking Ability
Another surprising ability of Wembanyama that I did not see before, was his playmaking and passing. If you watched the first quarter of the game, you would have obviously seen Wemby’s scoring struggles. But that did not prevent him from continuing to attack and finding open teammates.
On one possession, Wembanyama had an isolation on the perimeter. After a few flashy and effective dribble moves, he was able to get to the paint and draw four defenders. Rather than forcing a shot, he decided to drop it down around a defender to his teammate for the dunk. While his assist numbers may not be representative, this occurred multiple times throughout the game.
Being 7-foot-5 and isolating from the perimeter is insane by itself. But adding on the playmaking skills to set up his teammates only adds to Wembanyama’s elite skillset and shows why he will always find a way to thrive in the league.
After the game, Victor Wembanyama had this to say about his performance:
“Just gotta get acclimated to the new style of play … Next time, I’m going to do better,” Wembanyama said on ESPN after the game. “I hope to do better every time.”
The most important thing for a player that has this much hype entering the league is their mindset. Sure, they might have all the skills necessary to succeed in the league, but will their mind be able to handle all the scrutiny and praise they will receive? In Wemby’s case, the answer is most definitely a yes. This quote encapsulates how humble he really is, and his desire to constantly improve.
If there was one thing you learned by reading this article, don’t doubt Victor Wembanyama just yet. There’s a reason he was drafted №1 overall.
This is what I thought of Victor Wembanyama’s NBA debut. Let me know in the comments your ideas on this take and what you thought. To see more articles just like this, please make sure to check my account linked below.
