The Parisian Patisserie of Victor Wembanyama

[scott]

The look on Mitchell Robinson’s face is priceless.

Robinson did not look fit to play towards the end of the game, especially after it look like he tweaked his knee again. Hope is okay. But I agree... that look... that's the look of "Well, this is fucking pointless" - the same look Thomas Bryant had in pre-season :lol

Lots of reporting on the 40/20 game, but it goes further that that. Wemby is only the 5th player in the modern era (post-1980) to do a 40/20/7, and the only one to do it in under 40 minutes. In fact, John Drew is the only player to do it in under 40 minutes when he posted 40/25/7 in 1974 (though I'm not sure if these others had hit it before 40 minutes):

3/29/2024 - Wemby 40/20/7
12/28/2022 - Giannis 45/22/7 (Note: only guy to do it with no 3PM)
12/27/2022 - Luka 60/21/10 :lol
12/18/2022 - Joker 40/27/10
1/22/2018 - Boogie 44/23/10

Fun fact, Joker's 40/27/10 game against Dallas... Luka one upped him 9 days later when they re-matched.

[Das Texan]

He's figuring it out fast. Remember how much Hartenstein and Robinson wrecked him their first matchup when he wasn't ready for their physicality? That really made this game something impressive.

Thats the point I'm really making. His learning curve has been even quicker than I imagined.

Great for the Spurs.
Great for the NBA
Bad for the other 29 teams.

[CGD]

Brunson didn’t get his personal best scoring game ball for his trophy case.

And Wemby gave up his career high ball, which is pretty cool.

[Seventyniner]

He's figuring it out fast. Remember how much Hartenstein and Robinson wrecked him their first matchup when he wasn't ready for their physicality? That really made this game something impressive.

I can't wait for Wemby to make the playoffs and truly showcase his ability to quickly make opponent-specific adjustments.

[cutewizard]

Guys,

i just discovered a very good nickname/monicker for our young god, Wemby

i was listening to the commentator in the last game, and boom

how about

AMAZING GRACE....................yeah, AMAZING GRACE Wembbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

[exstatic]

Guys,

i just discovered a very good nickname/monicker for our young god, Wemby

i was listening to the commentator in the last game, and boom

how about

AMAZING GRACE....................yeah, AMAZING GRACE Wembbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

No. Not Amazing Grace. Not Wama.

Wemby or The Alien.

[thiste]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2g9ETIp2go

[Pauleta14]

I like Big Vic but we definitely need to find him a cool nickname

[Sugus]

1773930717610758248


It's really hard to believe how blessed the Spurs and Wemby are both to have ended up with each other. Truly special.

[Leetonidas]

I like Big Vic but we definitely need to find him a cool nickname

Big Vic Energy

[Pauleta14]

Big Vic Energy

Why didn’t I think about it!! :lol

[BatManu20]

Silver is such a chode.


https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GKA30NAX0AAhlei?format=jpg&name=large

[JPB]

Silver is such a chode.


https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GKA30NAX0AAhlei?format=jpg&name=large

how is that and incident? In Europe, players throw the ball or their jerseys in the stands all the time, specially in football. Its for the fans, it should be celebrated, not fined. You don't need to be an NBA player to know how to catch a ball.

[TekXX]

I'd imagen the spirit of the rule was to target angry dipshits like Draymond if they ever do this not throwing the ball into the stands in celebration for a win. Maybe the NBA sells these balls and you're taking money out of Silvers pockets when you do this.

[ginobilized]

Shifting from Big Vic energy and his ball outburst.....

I am really impressed with how well he's holding up to being bodied in the paint for over 70 NBA games. I wondered if his frame could handle the abuse at the start of the year.
Besides his great skills, confidence, demeanor and clutches, he might end up being pretty durable. Once he adds some strength and gets some better teammates, it's over.

[thiste]

Shifting from Big Vic energy and his ball outburst.....

I am really impressed with how well he's holding up to being bodied in the paint for over 70 NBA games. I wondered if his frame could handle the abuse at the start of the year.
Besides his great skills, confidence, demeanor and clutches, he might end up being pretty durable. Once he adds some strength and gets some better teammates, it's over.

I think he might be more durable than players his height usually are, because of his way of playing the game. He's playing very fluidly, he isn't forcing anything like Shaq, he doesn't jump out of the gym, actually he doesn't even jump very high most of the time because he doesn't have to.
I remember Kareem saying Yoga allowed him to have a long career (Bruce Lee taught him that apparently) and I tend to agree with him. And Victor is extremely flexible, that's something he's worked on for years already.
He takes some abuse but he also sleeps very well, so there are many tells that indicate he could be more durable than most. He surely does everything he can towards that at least.

[spurraider21]

I like Big Vic but we definitely need to find him a cool nickname
Big Dick Vic

spiritual successor to Danny Green

[DAF86]

I like Big Vic but we definitely need to find him a cool nickname

The French Freak.

[exstatic]

The French Freak.

It’s too bad that Gobert got here first. I like two of his: The French Rejection and the Stifle Tower.

[Fizziksman]

Draymond got fined for the same for choking Gobert lol

[Pauleta14]

Big Vic
Big Vic Energy
French Freak
Slim Vic
The Alien aka Eiffel Tower (E.T)
Louvre Alcindor (from Brett Usher on Twitter)

Let's keep going... :lol

[exstatic]

Big Vic
Big Vic Energy
French Freak
Slim Vic
The Alien aka Eiffel Tower (E.T)
Louvre Alcindor (from Brett Usher on Twitter)

Let's keep going... :lol

I like that one.

There’s a big white college kid that they’re callin Cream Abdul-Jabbar.

[thiste]

The French Freak.
Le French Freak.

[scott]

Wemby seems to work just fine

[Spurs Homer]

Please stop ….

wait until he dominates the nba and goes to his first playoffs

then worry about nicknames after he breaks the nba

[rjv]

I wonder why Windhorst was at the game.

[baseline bum]

1773876713388486741

[tonight...you]

1773876713388486741
Walt be bringing the goods and I know he was bullshitting.

[ace3g]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUEU3wFahP0

[John B]

1773876713388486741

He has Jordan’s competitiveness and Magic’s charm, DRob’s athleticism at that height, yet Timmy’s humility. He’s a perfect package for NBA’s future face. The Spurs fans are real lucky to have him.

[John B]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUEU3wFahP0

In the meantime, Chet was 5 pts, 5 rebs.

[cutewizard]

Amazing Grace

[spurraider21]

Wembananas

[Pauleta14]

Victor "Oh Mama!" Wembanyama

[Brazil]

I saw one cool, the rifle tower

[exstatic]

I saw one cool, the rifle tower

Bad flashbacks for people in Austin.

[Brazil]

Bad flashbacks for people in Austin.

it's a lot of bad flashbacks for a lot of cities unfortunately.. but I see what you mean

[spurraider21]

https://www.365chess.com/images/articles/FrenchDefense/300x300ximage8.jpg.pagespeed.ic.2DLCgOqMoe.jpg

[NASpurs]

I wonder why Windhorst was at the game.

He talks about it here:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nlrY2p9sp4&ab_channel=NBAonESPN

[Seventyniner]

https://www.365chess.com/images/articles/FrenchDefense/300x300ximage8.jpg.pagespeed.ic.2DLCgOqMoe.jpg

Calling Victor "e6" would be quite the esoteric nickname.

[ace3g]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GJ3hMVMWcAAsFog?format=jpg&name=4096x4096

[spurraider21]

really makes you doubt the claimed measurement of Bassey being 6'11 :lol

[Pauleta14]

https://www.youtube.com/live/xPKNsee7xfg?si=gxDDqgDHKeIq_fFP

[Knoxxx]

really makes you doubt the claimed measurement of Bassey being 6'11 :lol

I think that was a shoes measurement he is now listed ar 6-10.

[Brazil]

https://www.365chess.com/images/articles/FrenchDefense/300x300ximage8.jpg.pagespeed.ic.2DLCgOqMoe.jpg

The French defense.. nice

[scott]

Sorry if already posted


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFRwfdt-6pU

[Leetonidas]

Big Dick Vic

spiritual successor to Danny Green

Thick Dick Vic rolls off the tongue better :lol

[CGD]

really makes you doubt the claimed measurement of Bassey being 6'11 :lol

More the undercount on VW tbh. Doug McDermott was on Russillo the other day, and was saying 7’6” which I think is the actual number.

[Splits]

Sorry if already posted


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFRwfdt-6pU

from 3 weeks ago? idiot

[scott]

1774930937123389683

[Tyronn Lue]

Calling Victor "e6" would be quite the esoteric nickname.
As long as we can call Malaki and Collins sacrificed pawns.

[spurraider21]

More the undercount on VW tbh. Doug McDermott was on Russillo the other day, and was saying 7’6” which I think is the actual number.
i mean just comparing to zollins

[mystargtr34]

I rekon barefoot measurements are as follows.

Bassey - 6’8.75 (measured at 2019 draft combine)
Collins - 6’10.25 (measured at 2017 combine).
Mamu - 6’9 (measured at 2021 combine)
Barlowe - 6’8.75 (2022 combine).

That makes me think Wemby is about 7’4 barefoot tbh. 6 inches taller than Collins. Also puts him about an inch below Yao and Shawn Bradley which seems right. Dude is huge.

[TrainOfThought5]

Calling Victor "e6" would be quite the esoteric nickname.


whats the inside correlation? I don’t get it.

[spurraider21]

whats the inside correlation? I don’t get it.
French Defense is a specific chess opening, where in response to white opening by moving the pawn to E4, black answers by moving their pawn to E6

accordingly, e6 is kind of just shorthand for "French Defense" as it identifies the main move, but would only be understood by chess players

[Pauleta14]

Haven't seen it posted, McDermott had an interesting convo with Russillo a cple days ago, on Pop and Wemby.

From 20'17"


https://youtu.be/p6eHRtcZjs0?si=jiCI-2S68ma_9n79

[spursparker9]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78C6fXIRwL4

[thiste]

https://twitter.com/Matthew_Tynan/status/1774883018559091179

[tonight...you]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78C6fXIRwL4
This would have been even better if the guy went full Gilbert Godfrey on the vid.

[spurraider21]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lg3Vk1_L2JE

[Fireball]

Star free agency is dead. Good role players you need to win championships definitely will have an eye on SA in the future.
But the Top 3 guys of a championship team need to be developed or traded for.

[spurraider21]

Star free agency is dead. Good role players you need to win championships definitely will have an eye on SA in the future.
But the Top 3 guys of a championship team need to be developed or traded for.
unless its KD signing with the warriors. or nets.

or kawhi signing with the clippers

or lebron signing with the heat. and cavs. and lakers.

or brunson signing with the knicks.

or LMA with us way back when

or if you include S&T deals that are just borderline FA signings like Butler to miami

[DAF86]

I think Wemby's sidekick comes from Cleveland, tbh. Either one of Mitchell or Garland will be moved in the next couple of seasons.

[Spurminator]

French Defense is a specific chess opening, where in response to white opening by moving the pawn to E4, black answers by moving their pawn to E6

accordingly, e6 is kind of just shorthand for "French Defense" as it identifies the main move, but would only be understood by chess players

Is "The French Revolution" too on the nose?

[heyheymymy]

French Defense is a specific chess opening, where in response to white opening by moving the pawn to E4, black answers by moving their pawn to E6

accordingly, e6 is kind of just shorthand for "French Defense" as it identifies the main move, but would only be understood by chess players

very heady reference

[heyheymymy]

Wem6y

[DAF86]

Wem6y

wEm6y

I mean, it could work on a t-shirt.

[heyheymymy]

wEm6y

how do you say checkmate in French?

[thiste]

how do you say checkmate in French?

échec et mat

[thiste]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lg3Vk1_L2JE

He confirms what I said before: players around the league are talking about Victor in the locker room. They all see what's coming.

[heyheymymy]

wEm6y

I mean, it could work on a t-shirt.

Silver and Black chessboard background

Maybe we should draft Castle? I know he's a rook

[NASpurs]

Donkey sure likes Wemby doesn't he...

Even in his podcast he's always praising him.


https://youtu.be/z_CAQIyOpyc?si=3xFEupM6SaLUl89P&t=21

[spurraider21]

Donkey sure likes Wemby doesn't he...

Even in his podcast he's always praising him.


https://youtu.be/z_CAQIyOpyc?si=3xFEupM6SaLUl89P&t=21
i hate that dray is dirty and as out of control as he is with that stuff, because imo everything else about him is very likeable. his style of play, he's actually one of the more thoughtful player/podcasters when actually talking ball and strategy and stuff. always very detailed and meticulous in post game conferences as well

i know a lot of spurfan hated him because he would get DPOY talk back when we loved nephew, but he's always been very spursy with his play. its just the other stuff, ugh

[Fireball]

unless its KD signing with the warriors. or nets.

or kawhi signing with the clippers

or lebron signing with the heat. and cavs. and lakers.

or brunson signing with the knicks.

or LMA with us way back when

or if you include S&T deals that are just borderline FA signings like Butler to miami

sign and trade does not count ... the Brunson signing is basically the only valid argument you have within the last 5 years. And Brunson could not not have turned out the player he did.

[widowmaker]

Donkey sure likes Wemby doesn't he...

Even in his podcast he's always praising him.


https://youtu.be/z_CAQIyOpyc?si=3xFEupM6SaLUl89P&t=21


Wasnt he knocking on wemby before the season started talking about that he wont be able to do what he does in this league?

[spurraider21]

sign and trade does not count ... the Brunson signing is basically the only valid argument you have within the last 5 years. And Brunson could not not have turned out the player he did.
its obviously less common but it does happen. and imo S&T deals do count because the assets given up tend to be pretty minimal and not at all comparable to outright trades

[spurraider21]

Wasnt he knocking on wemby before the season started talking about that he wont be able to do what he does in this league?
he was showering wemby with praise. spurfan can be oversensitive to anybody that says anything about wemby tho. i remember when the vid came out and green was just saying that wemby being as tall as he is could work against him in some situations because "low man wins" when it comes to positioning. and yeah, we've seen plenty of times where wemby is moved out of position because its tough to stay planted when your center of gravity is so much higher than your opponent's. people who had never heard the expression were very offended by "low man wins" lol. was a funny saga here imho


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZLCSWDgD8U

[Seventyniner]

its obviously less common but it does happen. and imo S&T deals do count because the assets given up tend to be pretty minimal and not at all comparable to outright trades

I totally count S&Ts as free agency acquisitions. S&T is just a free agent going to a team that doesn't have the cap space to sign the player outright. The sending team in a S&T rarely gets more than a modest return, like a protected first and salary ballast.

[MultiTroll]

Donkey sure likes Wemby doesn't he...




Even in his podcast he's always praising him.]
Wishcasting / sucking up hoping he can extend his NBA career after the Warriors propaganda machine gets the plug pulled.

[spurraider21]

I totally count S&Ts as free agency acquisitions. S&T is just a free agent going to a team that doesn't have the cap space to sign the player outright. The sending team in a S&T rarely gets more than a modest return, like a protected first and salary ballast.
either way you are acquiring a player who has hit free agency. imo its much closer to a FA signing than it is a typical trade for a player on an existing contract, since it only works after negotiating directly w/ the free agent and his agent, and as you said, the compensation is minimal

[ace3g]

@NBAPR
San Antonio Spurs forward-center Victor Wembanyama and Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller have been named the Kia NBA Western and Eastern Conference Rookies of the Month, respectively, for games played in March

[Rosewood]

@NBAPR
San Antonio Spurs forward-center Victor Wembanyama and Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller have been named the Kia NBA Western and Eastern Conference Rookies of the Month, respectively, for games played in March I’ll admit it, I was 100% wrong about the Brandon Miller and Scoot discussions happening before the draft. I thought Scoot was the clear #2.

Wild how there were some people who said he’d even be rookie of the year over Victor.

[spurraider21]

I’ll admit it, I was 100% wrong about the Brandon Miller and Scoot discussions happening before the draft. I thought Scoot was the clear #2.

Wild how there were some people who said he’d even be rookie of the year over Victor.
point guards tend to have rougher starts too. much more on their plate. i wouldnt write scoot off yet.

but miller has been better than i thought as well

[NASpurs]

To the surprise of no one.

1775247029444256099

[NASpurs]

@NBAPR
San Antonio Spurs forward-center Victor Wembanyama and Charlotte Hornets forward Brandon Miller have been named the Kia NBA Western and Eastern Conference Rookies of the Month, respectively, for games played in March

:lol whoops missed this

[thiste]

Wasnt he knocking on wemby before the season started talking about that he wont be able to do what he does in this league?

Just like Paul George and Redick, he had to eat his words on Wemby.

[spurraider21]

Just like Paul George and Redick, he had to eat his words on Wemby.
why would he eat his words on wemby when he was effusively praising him? :lol

[NASpurs]

I’ll admit it, I was 100% wrong about the Brandon Miller and Scoot discussions happening before the draft. I thought Scoot was the clear #2.

Wild how there were some people who said he’d even be rookie of the year over Victor.

We definitely need someone with Brandon Miller's archetype.

[widowmaker]

he was showering wemby with praise. spurfan can be oversensitive to anybody that says anything about wemby tho. i remember when the vid came out and green was just saying that wemby being as tall as he is could work against him in some situations because "low man wins" when it comes to positioning. and yeah, we've seen plenty of times where wemby is moved out of position because its tough to stay planted when your center of gravity is so much higher than your opponent's. people who had never heard the expression were very offended by "low man wins" lol. was a funny saga here imho

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZLCSWDgD8U


No body is taking offense to anything. I said that before the season started donkey was talking shit and saying Wembanyama wasn’t going to be able to do what he does in the nba.

[thiste]

why would he eat his words on wemby when he was effusively praising him? :lol

Read the post I'm responding to

[manufan10]

Not sure how credible this is:

1775229832650961353

[spurraider21]

No body is taking offense to anything. I said that before the season started donkey was talking shit and saying Wembanyama wasn’t going to be able to do what he does in the nba.
he was saying wemby is special, he's going to be great, and that he will kill you if you dont deny him position, etc. they were talking about globetroller like antics which they said he wont get away with, and yes, he has been quite turnover prone (and was tripping over himself a lot early in the season as well), so he was correct.

i dont know how people listen to draymond speaking there and think he was being anything but positive about wemby. there are no words to eat.

[spurraider21]

Read the post I'm responding to
the post you were responding to mischaracterized what draymond said about wemby

[manufan10]

Not sure how credible this is:

1775229832650961353

1775240405497647211

[thiste]

the post you were responding to mischaracterized what draymond said about wemby

Well, before the season he said we're not letting you do that (about Victor's offensive moves).

Now he says you can't stop great players (talking about Victor), you just try to make them take tough shots.

Looks like to me he's going back on what he said earlier.

[spurraider21]

Well, before the season he said we're not letting you do that (about Victor's offensive moves).

Now he says you can't stop great players (talking about Victor), you just try to make them take tough shots.

Looks like to me he's going back on what he said earlier.
which moves was he talking about? any moves? or did he specifically say moves that look like globetrotter moves. like the stuff that leads to wemby's turnovers, or earlier in the season, constantly losing his footing with the ball

[thiste]

https://twitter.com/Wemby_Muse/status/1775253450680369273

[exstatic]

I’ll admit it, I was 100% wrong about the Brandon Miller and Scoot discussions happening before the draft. I thought Scoot was the clear #2.

Wild how there were some people who said he’d even be rookie of the year over Victor.

Scoot was terrible in a terrible, non competitive league. There were virtually no shot blockers, and he still struggled to finish. My mistake was thinking that the gleague was a shade better than OTE. It really isn’t.

[CGD]

Keep thinking back to the “Every game is a statement from now on” quote from back in January when he didn’t get Rookie of the Month. He wasn’t messing around!!

[ace3g]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sth5D-FWqYM


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnCros2aD5c

[widowmaker]

which moves was he talking about? any moves? or did he specifically say moves that look like globetrotter moves. like the stuff that leads to wemby's turnovers, or earlier in the season, constantly losing his footing with the ball


You are missing the point. BEFORE THE SEASON STARTED HE WAS TALKING ABOUT WEMBY NOT BEING ABLE TO TO WHAT HE DOES IN THE NBA. BEFORE THE SEASON STARTED. BEFORE THE SEASON STARTED.

[spurraider21]

You are missing the point. BEFORE THE SEASON STARTED HE WAS TALKING ABOUT WEMBY NOT BEING ABLE TO TO WHAT HE DOES IN THE NBA. BEFORE THE SEASON STARTED. BEFORE THE SEASON STARTED.
before the season started did you have any expectations for victor in the nba? BEFORE THE SEASON STARTED??

[thiste]

which moves was he talking about? any moves? or did he specifically say moves that look like globetrotter moves. like the stuff that leads to wemby's turnovers, or earlier in the season, constantly losing his footing with the ball

Look spurraider21, I fully respect your opinion, but there is no indication that he was specifically referring to Victor's ISO play. Everything Victor does could be considered worthy of the Harlem Globetrotters: his dribbling, his shooting, his passes, etc... you name it. The dude is a walking highlight reel.

So we can agree to disagree, but I think Dray changed his mind on Victor even though he was praising him even before the season. He was still waiting to see what Victor was all about, now he knows.

[spurraider21]

Look spurraider21, I fully respect your opinion, but there is no indication that he was specifically referring to Victor's ISO play. Everything Victor does could be considered worthy of the Harlem Globetrotters: his dribbling, his shooting, his passes, etc... you name it. The dude is a walking highlight reel.

So we can agree to disagree, but I think Dray changed his mind on Victor even though he was praising him even before the season. He was still waiting to see what Victor was all about, now he knows.
the indication that he was specifically referring to iso play is the context of the vid. i mean watch it, its like 10 minutes long. he goes out of his way to rave about how skilled wemby is, and how wemby will be impossible to guard if you let him get in his comfort zone, etc. he was pretty limited in how he thought wemby would have to adjust to the nba game (and again... he was right. lets not forget how sloppy he looked in the early months with his ball handling). George was more dismissive than Green was

i honestly cant really grasp how one could watch that full segment and come away with the take that draymond was hating on wemby to any degree

[widowmaker]

before the season started did you have any expectations for victor in the nba? BEFORE THE SEASON STARTED??


Yes i did. I expected him to come in like any other rookie and he has surpassed my expectations.

[widowmaker]

before the season started did you have any expectations for victor in the nba? BEFORE THE SEASON STARTED??

Btw i never went and said that he wouldn’t be able to do what he does in the NBA like donkey did. BEFORE THE SEASON STARTED.

[buttsR4rebounding]

https://x.com/StatMamba/status/1775366867055517913?s=20

[onechance87]

DPOY

[spurraider21]

6 more chances to put up these monster numbers and make a run for the award

[spurraider21]

Yes i did. I expected him to come in like any other rookie and he has surpassed my expectations.
how could you have any expectations BEFORE THE SEASON STARTED

[buttsR4rebounding]

DPOY

ROY, DPOY, 1st team All-Defense, 3rd team all NBA. Compared to the beginning of the year MIP!

[skin27]

What happened to wemby? 23 pts in 29 shots? Yikes

[Thomas82]

What happened to wemby? 23 pts in 29 shots? Yikes

Looks like that high altitude was affecting him.

[onechance87]

What happened to wemby? 23 pts in 29 shots? Yikes

just missed shots...Hes gotta keep taking them.Maybe chill out on taking deep threes lol

[spursparker9]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPKNsee7xfg

[CGD]

Looks like that high altitude was affecting him.

That and the team around him was pretty bad with Dev, Sochan, and Keldon out.

[manufan10]

1775501000813564220

[manufan10]

1775353478187044953

1775356567363166479

[manufan10]

1775390075100057943

:lol

[cd98]

Wemby is there defensively, but the big issue with him I've seen over and over is his inability to take advantage of smaller defenders in the post. He's good if he can get into an alley oop pass but if it is making a move on the block, it can get painful at times. If he could be consistent in the post, we would win games like last night because he had various undersized Nuggets defenders (technically everyone that defends him is undersized) and he failed to get good position and take advantage of the mismatch. That's something that he will need to master in the offseason and then he'll be pretty much unstoppable. It will also avoid more of those 3 feet from the 3 point line threes that are open shots for him, but not great shots when you are trying to win a close game.

[BatManu20]

Wemby needs to develop a jump hook imo. It’s not something he’s shown he’s able to do yet, so not sure if it’ll ever be in his repertoire, but he’d be lethal with a consistent little baby jump hook. He gets positioning in the paint relatively ease. With his height and length, he’d unstoppable with that baby hook. Seems like something he could learn if he spends time with Timmy this off-season.

Either way, as LMA alluded to in his interview a few weeks back, he needs to develop a go-to move that he can consistently get off in crunch-time. Whether it’s a baby hook or a Dirk-like one-legged step-back or something. Right now, his signature play is his sweeping, one-handed scoop shot. It’s nice and effective, but it’s more of a secondary move. He still needs 1-2 more consistent go-to shots that he can lean on. Hopefully that comes this off-season.

[widowmaker]

how could you have any expectations BEFORE THE SEASON STARTED


Because I can.

[Mugen]

Wemby needs to develop a jump hook imo. It’s not something he’s shown he’s able to do yet, so not sure if it’ll ever be in his repertoire, but he’d be lethal with a consistent little baby jump hook. He gets positioning in the paint relatively ease. With his height and length, he’d unstoppable with that baby hook. Seems like something he could learn if he spends time with Timmy this off-season.

Either way, as LMA alluded to in his interview a few weeks back, he needs to develop a go-to move that he can consistently get off in crunch-time. Whether it’s a baby hook or a Dirk-like one-legged step-back or something. Right now, his signature play is his sweeping, one-handed scoop shot. It’s nice and effective, but it’s more of a secondary move. He still needs 1-2 more consistent go-to shots that he can lean on. Hopefully that comes this off-season.

Stealing Embiid's face up mid range should be a no brainer. It's unblockable and easy enough.

What needs to stop is the old man designing plays where he's getting the ball 25 ft away to go and iso. It's ridiculous :lol

[KobesAchilles]

I mean if Wemby averages something crazy like 8 blocks a game in the next 7 games then I think he wins it. Other than that he will have to settle first team all defense. He might be in the running for 3rd team all nba. Idk if they still do it by position or not though. Bc Embiid is out of the running and so is KAT

[buttsR4rebounding]

The Spurs are a play-in team next year with no changes to the roster. Although the Olympics will take away a valuable summer of development for Wemby (although a strong run by France would be beneficial) Wemby's development over the past 3 months combined with a likely increase in minutes next year will make the Spurs at least a 10 seed in the West, likely higher. Wemby's tradgectory will make the Spurs a contender year 3. His size and skillset will make him virtually unguardable in a short period of time. If he ever figures out his 3 point shot the LOB will have a semi-permanent home in SA.

[heyheymymy]

Wemby is there defensively, but the big issue with him I've seen over and over is his inability to take advantage of smaller defenders in the post. He's good if he can get into an alley oop pass but if it is making a move on the block, it can get painful at times. If he could be consistent in the post, we would win games like last night because he had various undersized Nuggets defenders (technically everyone that defends him is undersized) and he failed to get good position and take advantage of the mismatch. That's something that he will need to master in the offseason and then he'll be pretty much unstoppable. It will also avoid more of those 3 feet from the 3 point line threes that are open shots for him, but not great shots when you are trying to win a close game.

If I recall correctly Wemby got 6'6" Braun on him in the post at least once and failed to exploit the size advantage. Braun's top of his head was at Wemby's elbows lol like just turn around and drop it in. Seen this a few times throughout the season. Wemby must learn to exploit the mismatch.

[NASpurs]

The Spurs are a play-in team next year with no changes to the roster. Although the Olympics will take away a valuable summer of development for Wemby (although a strong run by France would be beneficial) Wemby's development over the past 3 months combined with a likely increase in minutes next year will make the Spurs at least a 10 seed in the West, likely higher. Wemby's tradgectory will make the Spurs a contender year 3. His size and skillset will make him virtually unguardable in a short period of time. If he ever figures out his 3 point shot the LOB will have a semi-permanent home in SA.

They need to win 20-25 more wins to be a play in team. You’re saying they’ll be that with no changes to the roster. Yeah I don’t see that.

[LeBowen]

They need to win 20-25 more wins to be a play in team. You’re saying they’ll be that with no changes to the roster. Yeah I don’t see that.

Won 22 last season with blatant tanking, DNP-ing players based on matchups and trading away Jakob mid-season.
Added Wemby who exceeded everyone's expectations, had next to no injury issues and it's going to be a season with less than 22 wins.

Even if everyone develops on their best case trajectory, this roster still has glaring flaws that need to be addressed if we're to compete next season. Even for the play-in.
Unless Wemby is a legit MVP candidate right away, this roster needs at least two legit starters to compete. With one of them being all-star level.

We need a floor general and a legit 3-D wing who's an above average defender and a solid shooter at the very least.

[Pauleta14]

The Spurs are a play-in team next year with no changes to the roster. Although the Olympics will take away a valuable summer of development for Wemby (although a strong run by France would be beneficial) Wemby's development over the past 3 months combined with a likely increase in minutes next year will make the Spurs at least a 10 seed in the West, likely higher. Wemby's tradgectory will make the Spurs a contender year 3. His size and skillset will make him virtually unguardable in a short period of time. If he ever figures out his 3 point shot the LOB will have a semi-permanent home in SA.

International bb is huge in player development.

I particularly can’t wait to see if it helps Sochan who’ll benefit from a very diff bb than the one played in NBA, his BBIQ should improve a lot.

My only worry is the impact a strong run would have on Wemby’s next season.

[BatManu20]

Stealing Embiid's face up mid range should be a no brainer. It's unblockable and easy enough.


Good point. And Wemby seems more comfortable taking that shot anyways over a hook anyways so that's probably his best bet. If he gets even semi-automatic with that shot, he basically becomes unguardable, especially once he puts on a more muscle, cause he has the foot quickness to beat you off the dribble on pump-fakes as well as the passing ability to hit the open shooter (once we surround him with more). Hopefully at least one Coach on our staff recognizes this and helps Wemby to recognize this and develop it (or something similar) cause it could make him a lethal offensive player.


What needs to stop is the old man designing plays where he's getting the ball 25 ft away to go and iso. It's ridiculous :lol

That's about as likely as the old man drawing up a good out-of-bounds play in crunch time tbh (not happening).

[Mugen]

Good point. And Wemby seems more comfortable taking that shot anyways over a hook anyways so that's probably his best bet. If he gets even semi-automatic with that shot, he basically becomes unguardable, especially once he puts on a more muscle, cause he has the foot quickness to beat you off the dribble on pump-fakes as well as the passing ability to hit the open shooter (once we surround him with more). Hopefully at least one Coach on our staff recognizes this and helps Wemby to recognize this and develop it (or something similar) cause it could make him a lethal offensive player.

I'd hope that Brett is in Wemby's ear this offseason about that type of development considering he was his Embiid's coach when he entered the league. Probably won't have much time with the Olympics but developing a consistent, go-to-move like you said is huge this offseason.

[ambchang]

Wembys template is Garnett 2.0. The height, reach, fluidity and lateral movements, coupled with an incredible IQ (esp defensively) is too similar to overlook. Only wemby has a better overall game.

[spurraider21]

1775580478008885449

[Tyronn Lue]

A lot of players are saying Victor is the DPOY. He's like the human iron dome, patriot missile system.

[Pauleta14]

I said it mutiple times, it's the exact same process than with Chet for the ROY...

Even the most sceptics prioritizing wins for DPOY end up being overwhelmed by Wemby's production

[Sugus]

Wemby is just bigger than life. We are so fucking lucky to be witnesses.


Once in a generation player and he plays for the Spurs, man. :cry:worthy:

[scott]

My only concern with Wemby is a question I've never heard anyone answer...

Is he done growing? If he evolves into an 8-foot spider human, it may present some concerns :lol

[exstatic]

My only concern with Wemby is a question I've never heard anyone answer...

Is he done growing? If he evolves into an 8-foot spider human, it may present some concerns :lol

McDermott was on a recent podcast, and says he’s 7’5”, minimum.

[Duncan2177]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqRcLE354cs

[thiste]

1775580478008885449

OK so now do you agree he's eating his words on Victor? :lol

[thiste]

the indication that he was specifically referring to iso play is the context of the vid. i mean watch it, its like 10 minutes long. he goes out of his way to rave about how skilled wemby is, and how wemby will be impossible to guard if you let him get in his comfort zone, etc. he was pretty limited in how he thought wemby would have to adjust to the nba game (and again... he was right. lets not forget how sloppy he looked in the early months with his ball handling). George was more dismissive than Green was

i honestly cant really grasp how one could watch that full segment and come away with the take that draymond was hating on wemby to any degree

BTW I haven't been one of those saying Dray was hating on Wemby, I just said he wasn't convinced. And he changed his mind.

[NASpurs]

1775580478008885449

Starts off by saying how much he loves Pop and how he feels bad he didn't get to talk to him. Has a signed jersey from Wemby and talks about Wemby like a fan idolizing a star.


https://youtu.be/CfXlYHtHYLs?si=skXBU8CnTeGLjnEl

[spurraider21]

OK so now do you agree he's eating his words on Victor? :lol
nope

he has praised victor non stop. dont know why fans are so sensitive about this :lol

even if that early video with PG when he said wemby cant get away with globetrotter stuff, he already said he's going to be elite elite defensively right away

he just previously said gobert should be dpoy because the spurs team defense sucks, wolves have an elite d, etc. he's come around on that though

[spurraider21]

BTW I haven't been one of those saying Dray was hating on Wemby, I just said he wasn't convinced. And he changed his mind.
he didnt change his mind. and he was accurate

[spursparker9]

Raymond probably trying to convince the media not to vote for Gobert for DPOY by advocating for Wemby. But nonetheless I would take it :lol

[spurraider21]

Raymond probably trying to convince the media not to vote for Gobert for DPOY by advocating for Wemby. But nonetheless I would take it :lol
maybe. but was maybe 2 weeks ago or so where he was saying gobert should be dpoy. some of vics recent performances seem to have changed his tune

[Brazil]

it's one thing to block a couple of shots against role players it's another to block and bother defensively elite bigs like the greek freak, jokic, AD etc... more than the stats, his perfo against those AS are starting to get noticed heavily

[MultiTroll]

Victor holding his leg and limping for a while after Braun stuck out his leg and collided it into Wemby.

Everything fine?

Dirty play? Eh it was within the rule but i thought it was cheap. Regardless, Victor needs to be aware shrimp's like this are gonna try that chit.

Above why are we caring what Draymond says. Obvious suck up trying to position himself for a spot on Wembys team as the Warriors are exterminated.

[thiste]

he just previously said gobert should be dpoy because the spurs team defense sucks, wolves have an elite d, etc. he's come around on that though
That's what I'm referencing in my latest post. He flat out said Victor shouldn't be DPOY because the Spurs suck and team record matters, and now he flat out said he changed his mind and Victor should be DPOY because his defensive skill is so transcendant.

If that's not changing his mind / eating his words, I don't know what is :lol

[thiste]

Above why are we caring what Draymond says. Obvious suck up trying to position himself for a spot on Wembys team as the Warriors are exterminated.

Because people like that have a huge amount of influence and can change a vote. Last season one hot take from Perk changed the MVP race.
I want Victor to win DPOY this season because that is unprecedented and he deserves it. That's why I care, personally.

[MultiTroll]

Because people like that have a huge amount of influence and can change a vote. Last season one hot take from Perk changed the MVP race.
I want Victor to win DPOY this season because that is unprecedented and he deserves it. That's why I care, personally.
If the vote is dependent on someone like Apemond and his fraudulent behavior then what is the point of the award having any merit?

Timmy Duncan 2 should be the goal for Wemby. Legit Championships and phuck the phony media awards.

[spurraider21]

That's what I'm referencing in my latest post. He flat out said Victor shouldn't be DPOY because the Spurs suck and team record matters, and now he flat out said he changed his mind and Victor should be DPOY because his defensive skill is so transcendant.

If that's not changing his mind / eating his words, I don't know what is :lol
even in the recent vid he acknowledged that record and team success does matter but that Vic overcomes that

But sure he has come around on that

[JPB]

The Spurs are a play-in team next year with no changes to the roster. .

Lemme check... No, its not a post from last year.

Sorry but they're not even close. There are other teams being pretty good at BB above them and that's 23-25 games more you have to win. they need to seriously upgrade the roster to get into the play in.

[Pauleta14]

Not sure where to post this from one of my fav NBA analyst, SNIFERS should listen.


https://youtu.be/2SpRUbP9MEo?si=bqzFnlvcwxRTFzYs

[cutewizard]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQGmpdcwfPM

[cutewizard]

all told, we need a massive reinforcement next season

Wemby needs his support team

NOW!!!!!!!!!!!

[cutewizard]

"now tell me...........who is the Defensive Player of the Year?"

[JPB]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQGmpdcwfPM

Incredible vid.

That's why you can't compare with former or current all time greats paths and curves. He's putting performances that these other guys only started to put in their prime or never put... He's way above these guys in their rookie years. Waiting too much would be hurting his further development, wich is the priority, not the development (or not) of other guys who won't be there in 2 years.

[lefty]

Not sure where to post this from one of my fav NBA analyst, SNIFERS should listen.


https://youtu.be/2SpRUbP9MEo?si=bqzFnlvcwxRTFzYs
Meh it's not 100% accurate

[spursparker9]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3qb3ELlYx0

[ace3g]

Someone mentioned it online but Cloverfield (movie monster) as a nickname.

[Mugen]

Someone mentioned it online but Cloverfield (movie monster) as a nickname.

That might be the worst one yet tbh :lol

[cutewizard]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0s14Er0jJl0

[The Truth #6]

David had an incredible rookie campaign. At least more efficient maybe with less experimentation. Different players and situations. His athleticism was peak. This is not to discount Wemby.

[Pauleta14]

Meh it's not 100% accurate

What part?

I was more referring to what the Spurs should do short term, basically faster than the 5year game plan a la OKC, but not rushing for the sake of it with a Trae Jones if not worth it

[Frenchfred]

Not sure where to post this from one of my fav NBA analyst, SNIFERS should listen.


https://youtu.be/2SpRUbP9MEo?si=bqzFnlvcwxRTFzYs

At the end, he doesn't really have a solution because this year, all in for Markkanen or Bridge, really? Sadly, next year is probably going to be more of the same with a new rookie and maybe another vet or two.

[ginobilized]

Windhorst's take that players may become more interested in playing in SA than in years past, might have some creedence. The growth of the city and Wemby's gravity will probably get us better players, eventually.

Also, I agree with the gist of the take above by Jason Timpf. Adding a strong PF, legit 3&D SF, and a strong defender/distributor at PG to the SL make a lot of sense to me.
A 2nd unit of Tre Jones, Branham, KJ, Sochan and Collins (for now) would be fairly dynamic. Champagne, Wesley, and Mamu waving towels in SA or elsewhere. Not sure that can all happen in one offseason, but, I can dream.

[Pauleta14]

At the end, he doesn't really have a solution because this year, all in for Markkanen or Bridge, really? Sadly, next year is probably going to be more of the same with a new rookie and maybe another vet or two.

Nah he just threw a few names like that but that was'nt the main point.

The idea is just don't copy OKC's timeline (5 years) + I agree on his (cold) evaluation of the roster

[thiste]

David had an incredible rookie campaign. At least more efficient maybe with less experimentation. Different players and situations. His athleticism was peak. This is not to discount Wemby.
You're comparing a 19yo to a 24yo, the situations were very different. The league as well. Victor is still growing into his body & just left his teenage years. David also played significantly more minutes.

Btw David wasn't more efficient, at least shooting-wise. He shot 53.2% from two and 73.2% from the free throw line. Victor is shooting 53.3% from two and 79.6% from the free throw line.

[eric365]

The feeling he already has with mamu show the spurs will have to put around wemby high IQ passing guys
Instead of scoring / slashing only players (Vessel, Keldon, Collins etc…)

The spurs teams from 2012 to 2015 would have been perfect for Wemby

[Knoxxx]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2g9ETIp2go

This guy has kind of an annoying voice so turn down your volume if necessary, but he attempts to show how Wemby can do things nobody can.

[Knoxxx]

At the 2:30 mark, the contest at the 3 PT line then he shifts back to stop the dribble drive. ALIEN

Is Victor Wembanyama Already The Best Defender In The NBA? (youtube.com) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3A1OSYXFItI)

[Knoxxx]

10 Minutes Of People Reacting To Victor Wembanyama (youtube.com) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRf_29tbU9k)

4 min mark is pretty good, though my favorite may be the "speed boost" at the 5:30. So we are watching and not always understanding the full gravity of what we have.

[The Truth #6]

You're comparing a 19yo to a 24yo, the situations were very different. The league as well. Victor is still growing into his body & just left his teenage years. David also played significantly more minutes.

Btw David wasn't more efficient, at least shooting-wise. He shot 53.2% from two and 73.2% from the free throw line. Victor is shooting 53.3% from two and 79.6% from the free throw line.

Did you notice the part where I said "different players and situations"?

[JPB]

David had an incredible rookie campaign. At least more efficient maybe with less experimentation. Different players and situations. His athleticism was peak. This is not to discount Wemby.

He did, but Drob was 24. Just Imagining Victor in 4 years.

[Frenchfred]

Nah he just threw a few names like that but that was'nt the main point.

The idea is just don't copy OKC's timeline (5 years) + I agree on his (cold) evaluation of the roster

I agree that 5 years is probably too long but timing also depends on the availability of good players. This year doesn't seem to be great for free agents or the draft (so no value in the Spurs draft pick).

[Pauleta14]

I agree that 5 years is probably too long but timing also depends on the availability of good players. This year doesn't seem to be great for free agents or the draft (so no value in the Spurs draft pick).

Of course, but seizing opportunities must be part of the strategy, which Spurs have never been good at historically contrary to other Franchises.

Even a mistake can be fixed, look at Dallas giving a stupid contract to Grant Williams, they managed to get rid of him quite fast for an even better player. I'm not saying Dallas is the model haha, but Spurs need to change their conservative "tradition" imo.

I could be wrong and PATFO make me shut my mouth this summer, but I have the impression that stubborness and emotional attachements to some players are (too) big part of their decision making.

I'm not excited by this free agency either btw, I count on being active and imaginative in trades, we don't necessarily need the 2nd star now but the priority imo is to surround Wemby with high(ier) BBIQ and talented passers, 2 aspects that are insanely weak in this roster.

[ace3g]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GKmSe4OXAAAU_ep?format=jpg&name=900x900

[Frenchfred]

Of course, but seizing opportunities must be part of the strategy, which Spurs have never been good at historically contrary to other Franchises.

Even a mistake can be fixed, look at Dallas giving a stupid contract to Grant Williams, they managed to get rid of him quite fast for an even better player. I'm not saying Dallas is the model haha, but Spurs need to change their conservative "tradition" imo.

I could be wrong and PATFO make me shut my mouth this summer, but I have the impression that stubborness and emotional attachements to some players are (too) big part of their decision making.

I'm not excited by this free agency either btw, I count on being active and imaginative in trades, we don't necessarily need the 2nd star now but the priority imo is to surround Wemby with high(ier) BBIQ and talented passers, 2 aspects that are insanely weak in this roster.

I agree and I think that the Spurs should be looking for role players like Naz Reid, Herb Jones and wait next year to go after another star. Of course, if there is an opportunity for a superstar you try but I don't think that there is anybody right now. I don't think that Trae is the solution

[ace3g]

https://twitter.com/TimMartin_TX/status/1777133115703484541

[Spurs Homer]

Pop call a motherfucking timeout

[lefty]

el código de trampa humano

[thiste]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86GOgz-46Yw

[ace3g]

https://twitter.com/nikebasketball/status/1777405428470587649

[Splits]

https://twitter.com/nikebasketball/status/1777405428470587649

Hope Mr. Body is out there staring at the sun

[BatManu20]

New logo is pretty dope tbh.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GKqkOX8W8AESKBW?format=jpg&name=medium

[Dejounte]

New logo is pretty dope tbh.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GKqkOX8W8AESKBW?format=jpg&name=medium
Great marketing

not a fan of the nike placements on the logo, especially the reverse one. Doesn’t serve Nike’s brand well

[lefty]

Major upgrade from HEB :lol

[Tyronn Lue]

Saw this on ESPN (cover story)

In a seven-week span during his rookie season, Wembanyama had a 40-20 game, a 10-block game and recorded a 5x5. In the 50 years since blocks became official, only two other players -- Davis and Hakeem Olajuwon (https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/619/hakeem-olajuwon) -- have done that over the span of their entire careers.

[Spurminator]

Great marketing

not a fan of the nike placements on the logo, especially the reverse one. Doesn’t serve Nike’s brand well

I like it. If you think about it there's a reverse swoosh on pretty much every shoe.

[exstatic]

I like it. If you think about it there's a reverse swoosh on pretty much every shoe.

Exactly. Put them toe to toe, and you have a reverse logo on one side of each shoe.

[spurraider21]

wemby not facing chet today

1778130098786353562

[lefty]

I think we are gonna lose that game

[Joseph Kony]

wemby not facing chet today

1778130098786353562

welp. guess i can skip this one

[spurs1990]

They need to let Wembanyama have a David Robinson vs Clippers 1994 (https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/140424012) outing in one of the last two home games.

Let him take 40 shots

[Splits]

wemby not facing chet today

1778130098786353562

the tank is on

[Thomas82]

They need to let Wembanyama have a David Robinson vs Clippers 1994 (https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/140424012) outing in one of the last two home games.

Let him take 40 shots

I wouldn't mind seeing that.

[Joseph Kony]

They need to let Wembanyama have a David Robinson vs Clippers 1994 (https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/140424012) outing in one of the last two home games.

Let him take 40 shots
i hope so man. Taking my little girl to see her first ever game on Sunday and it's fan appreciation night as well. Pop will probably fuck us over and sit wemby though

[Brazil]

I think we are gonna lose that game

you think ? :lol

[SpurSpike]

i hope so man. Taking my little girl to see her first ever game on Sunday and it's fan appreciation night as well. Pop will probably fuck us over and sit wemby though

Enjoy it man, I took mine for her 1st game earlier this year and she keeps asking if we can go back!

[Joseph Kony]

Enjoy it man, I took mine for her 1st game earlier this year and she keeps asking if we can go back!
thats awesome :toast mine is only 18 months old so i'm not sure how into it she'll be but she watches games with me a lot and she seems like she's interested in it :lol gotta start them young

[spurraider21]

thats awesome :toast mine is only 18 months old so i'm not sure how into it she'll be but she watches games with me a lot and she seems like she's interested in it :lol gotta start them young
my older kid is almost 3 and he definitely doesnt have the attention span to sit and watch a full sports match of any kind

i used to have football on during sundays and he'd sit for a few minutes commenting on it, and then quickly asking if we could change it to lion king or some shit :lol

[timtonymanu]

i hope so man. Taking my little girl to see her first ever game on Sunday and it's fan appreciation night as well. Pop will probably fuck us over and sit wemby though

He got mad at fans for booing Kawhi. The old man doesn’t care about the fans. :lol

[ace3g]

https://twitter.com/tim_cato/status/1778154046873850078

[baseline bum]

my older kid is almost 3 and he definitely doesnt have the attention span to sit and watch a full sports match of any kind

i used to have football on during sundays and he'd sit for a few minutes commenting on it, and then quickly asking if we could change it to lion king or some shit :lol

When you gonna get the boy fighting Sigrun?

[spurraider21]

When you gonna get the boy fighting Sigrun?
BOY, YOU ARE NOT READY

[spursgu]

He got mad at fans for booing Kawhi. The old man doesn’t care about the fans. :lol

all you do is complain about that. Stfu already.

[timtonymanu]

all you do is complain about that. Stfu already.

And you are? Never heard a damn thing about you until you responded to my post. :lol

[spursparker9]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJ_GO-0xEOk

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

What are the odds he plays on Sunday?

[pookenstein]

https://twitter.com/tim_cato/status/1778154046873850078

Here`s the article:
The ‘humbling experience’ of trying to shoot over Victor Wembanyama
Tim Cato (https://theathletic.com/author/tim-cato/)
Apr 10, 2024
Pat Connaughton (https://theathletic.com/nba/player/pat-connaughton-mJwPK9swUMhqY10l/) knows what an open shot feels like. As a nine-year veteran of the league, he’s taken hundreds of them, developing a sense for space and when there’s enough of it.
In early January, when Connaughton’s Milwaukee Bucks (https://theathletic.com/nba/team/bucks/) played the San Antonio Spurs (https://theathletic.com/nba/team/spurs/), Connaughton got that familiar feeling again. With about eight minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Giannis Antetokounmpo (https://theathletic.com/nba/player/giannis-antetokounmpo-FV8e23LS5qDkPy4W/) drew a double team and found Brook Lopez (https://theathletic.com/nba/player/brook-lopez-k7aWQKAexrC6eVg2/) alone on the right wing. San Antonio’s Julian Champagnie (https://theathletic.com/nba/player/julian-champagnie-8JpVjlqCSsbwlaNL/), Connaughton’s defender, scrambled to cover him.

As Lopez caught Antetokounmpo’s pass, the Spurs player responsible for covering Champagnie’s rotation was 27 feet away, one foot in the paint and the other on the floor’s other side. Connaughton knew the swing-swing pass from Lopez would come and he usually only needs two or three feet of separation from a defender to get off his shot. In other words, Connaughton was open. The ball left his hands two seconds later.
Then, it suddenly died in the air.
“I wouldn’t have shot it if I thought he was going to be able to get it,” Connaughton said later.

Victor Wembanyama (https://theathletic.com/nba/player/victor-wembanyama-0lNu4P1JXZca9gqU/), the 7-foot-4 rookie phenom who had made the rotation from the corner, met the ball 12 feet and seven inches into the air.
“Every second counts when you’re playing against him, right? So the swing-swings have to be quicker, and when you think you’ve got enough space, you really don’t,” Connaughton said. “We talked about it after the game, it was impressive stuff.”
Wembanyama isn’t just breaking basketball, but the very perception of openness — of basketball physics — within the NBA (https://theathletic.com/nba/). He has blocked seven 3s this season, far from the league’s lead, but what stands out is the manner in which he has disrupted the inevitability defenders used to feel.
“Have I had guys tell me this?” Wembanyama said when asked about his long closeouts. “Yeah, all the time. Sometimes during the game, sometimes after. But it happens.”
The NBA’s modern era is the result of an evolved understanding and war over space. There’s always been more of it out past the 3-point line than inside, but over the last decade, teams and players have started using that territory exponentially more than before. It’s been long enough since the beginning of Stephen Curry (https://theathletic.com/nba/player/stephen-curry-toS7DgUD3IIt7uds/)’s rise for player development and norms to adapt to the game’s massive upheaval.
Yet while players have extended the horizontal plane to create space, the vertical one has remained constant. At this level, every player knows what an open shot looks and feels like.
At least they did before Wembanyama.
“He’s taking that space back, for sure,” Spurs teammate Tre Jones (https://theathletic.com/nba/player/tre-jones-ILc8sZl2NSif7UQZ/) said.

Phoenix Suns (https://theathletic.com/nba/team/suns/) guard Grayson Allen (https://theathletic.com/nba/player/grayson-allen-E9IF6RRaReZhPxGS/), the league’s 3-point percentage leader, fell victim to Wembanyama in the season’s opening week. He felt like Wembanyama was between him and another defender, not fully committed to guarding him. But Wembanyama reached Allen’s shot anyway, something that has only happened one other time in Allen’s 421 attempts from behind the arc this season.
“He’s one of probably two guys in the NBA that can block it from where he was,” Allen said.
Allen’s right. Connaughton’s jumper was labeled “wide open,” which the league’s tracking metrics use to identify shots taken when the nearest defender is more than six feet away. Wembanyama is one of just two players — the other is Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert (https://theathletic.com/nba/player/rudy-gobert-HoB7w4Z5ROZnzHO4/) — who have blocked three such shots this season, said the Synergy Sports product designer who provided tracking data for this story, Todd Whitehead.
“Part of my job is to figure out what those labels should be,” Whitehead said. “So to have Wemby come and throw a wrench into what I’m trying to do, making something happen that seems like it’s physically impossible — it doesn’t really frustrate me, but it makes the data point seem like (it’s) wrong because he’s so unusual.”

According to Synergy data, 86 percent of the 3-pointers that Wembanyama has contested fall into that “wide open” label, one of the “worst” rates in the league. In other words, when opposing players take shots, he’s rarely considered “close” enough to them to affect them. But the league is shooting slightly less than 36 percent on “wide open” 3s that he has contested, noticeably lower than the 39.2 percent league average. In other words, a “wide open” 3 isn’t wide open when Wembanyama contests it.
Teams are, of course, aware of Wembanyama. Before the Dallas Mavericks (https://theathletic.com/nba/team/mavericks/) faced San Antonio in the 2023-24 season opener, assistant coach God Shammgod strapped padded extensions to his arms in an amusing attempt to simulate the impossibly long-limbed French defender.
And yet on the team’s opening possession, the first official shot attempted against Wembanyama came from Kyrie Irving (https://theathletic.com/nba/player/kyrie-irving-c9XLlxAFm6NG5ddD/), who pulled up for a 17-foot midrange jumper that was promptly blocked by the San Antonio debutant.
“I don’t mind that,” Irving said later, amused he was the first official victim of a Wembanyama block. “The right side of history.”

And that lesson, at least, stuck with Irving for the remainder of the game and consecutive matchups against the Spurs this season. Last month, he had a signature highlight finish (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqnVX-db4Lw) over the lengthy big man.
What Irving learned in October was what Wembanyama’s teammates realized even sooner. Jones, the Spurs’ starting point guard, got a crash course in one of the team’s first open gym runs long before the season began. “I felt like I had an open look,” he said. “When we’re open, we pretty much know it.”
Dominick Barlow (https://theathletic.com/nba/player/dominick-barlow-HKHJJuZ5xlcrm24H/), the Spurs’ backup center, described the feeling of shooting near Wembanyama as a “humbling experience.”
“We’ve taken hundreds and thousands of open shots in our lives,” he said.
Barlow and Jones face an odd phenomenon: They try not to overadjust to Wembanyama’s presence, because being his teammate means they won’t have to face him in an actual game. Still, Wembanyama is an unavoidable presence in their minds whenever he’s wearing the other color of their scrimmage jerseys.
“The red light in your head goes off,” Jones said. “You definitely have the awareness when he’s around and know where he is at all times.”
Opponents aren’t so lucky. Irving said he passed up a shot similar to the blocked pull-up jumper later in the game to instead find a shooter nowhere near Wembanyama. Allen said he might just back up further. Connaughton thinks it might even require him to shoot differently.
“You got to take the Steph Curry moon ball,” he said.

Wembanyama’s shot blocking mostly happens at the rim, but these are the league’s best shooters all conveying a similar fear. Like many of the league’s best rim protectors, Wembanyama doesn’t only block shots, but also deters opponents from even attempting them. Yet Wembanyama is also doing the same thing on 3-point shots.
“When you get out there with him,” Irving said, “you’re a little bit more aware of his positioning.”
Over the past decade, as offensive players took up more and more of the floor’s space and used it to their advantage, defenders haven’t had much recourse. Jump shots have always held air superiority, using the space far above defenders’ reaches to avoid them.
But Wembanyama hasn’t only entered the league; he’s also launched himself to literal heights previously unreachable. And now, he’s at least one player fighting back.
“(He’s defying physics) as I did understand them,” Connaughton said. “Now I’m recalibrating.”

[Fizziksman]

What are the odds he plays on Sunday?

He will probably only play the remaining home games

[spursparker9]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1Pf4ZTbcvU

[exstatic]

He will probably only play the remaining home games

That’s all that is left,two home games, Friday vs Denver and Sunday vs. Detroit.

[Pauleta14]

What are the odds he plays on Sunday?


I can't imagine him not playing tbh

Pop already had to argue his absence vs OKC and the only reason was the BtoB

[BatManu20]

1778454708606181874

[manufan10]

1778493605125955880

[manufan10]

1778496558054715585

[Limguogolo]

1778454708606181874
It's called advertising. Or event. No "statue" there.

Btw, nobody knows who Victor is in Paris.

[tonight...you]

1778496558054715585
Those are sick.

[spurraider21]

it looks like the cybertruck of shoes

[Dejounte]

Hell nah

[ace3g]

https://twitter.com/BobbyMarks42/status/1778455787951505555

[CGD]

https://twitter.com/BobbyMarks42/status/1778455787951505555

Lotta these talking heads recently trying to make the connection to Garland (Lowe, Simmons, these guys). Wonder if there is something there besides the speculation?

To the extent that’s in play, Garland’s market seems to be at its lowest (bad year, now on large salary, clearly Mitchell is the priority for CLE).

Setting aside the fit question, what do we think his current value is?

[TD 21]

Lotta these talking heads recently trying to make the connection to Garland (Lowe, Simmons, these guys). Wonder if there is something there besides the speculation?

To the extent that’s in play, Garland’s market seems to be at its lowest (bad year, now on large salary, clearly Mitchell is the priority for CLE).

Setting aside the fit question, what do we think his current value is?

My guess is it would take Johnson, Graham, Branham, one "good" 1st and one lesser one or Johnson, Jones, one "good" 1st and one lesser one.

[skin27]

1778496558054715585

That's an ugly one.. hope thats not the final design of wemby 1

[spursgu]

And you are? Never heard a damn thing about you until you responded to my post. :lol

make better posts then.

[CGD]

My guess is it would take Johnson, Graham, Branham, one "good" 1st and one lesser one or Johnson, Jones, one "good" 1st and one lesser one.

Sounds right. I’ve also wondered if a draft day deal where spurs send out their Top 5 pick in this draft along with Keldon and the CHA pick (and all the SRPs they want) gets it done. But I suppose CLE would want more certainty about the Mitchell situation before pulling the trigger first.

[KobesAchilles]

I like these shoes and will end up buying them. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but these remind me a bit of my old AI shoes and I loved those shoes

[exstatic]

Sounds right. I’ve also wondered if a draft day deal where spurs send out their Top 5 pick in this draft along with Keldon and the CHA pick (and all the SRPs they want) gets it done. But I suppose CLE would want more certainty about the Mitchell situation before pulling the trigger first.

Mitchell is notoriously quiet about his intentions. He’s had interest in the Knick’s, but I doubt they want to pay for him when they have a better version in Brunson.

[cd98]

Are the Spurs not playing Wemby for the last two games?

[Pauleta14]

Are the Spurs not playing Wemby for the last two games?


unimaginable mate

[CGD]

Mitchell is notoriously quiet about his intentions. He’s had interest in the Knick’s, but I doubt they want to pay for him when they have a better version in Brunson.

I agree. I think he ends up taking the bag and then agitates for a trade a year later. He may also quietly insist Garland be shipping as part of him re-upping bc the fit is so bad.

[Pauleta14]

From the 1:04:30 mark, Gobert and JJ taik about Wemby. Love how they end up agreeing that the most impressive aspects beyond his size and skills are his heart and mind that really seperate him from the rest


https://youtu.be/zi0kmu9NmLk?si=q8HH-Q1sj4RC04iC

[ambchang]

Lotta these talking heads recently trying to make the connection to Garland (Lowe, Simmons, these guys). Wonder if there is something there besides the speculation?

To the extent that’s in play, Garland’s market seems to be at its lowest (bad year, now on large salary, clearly Mitchell is the priority for CLE).

Setting aside the fit question, what do we think his current value is?

It's because they read Spurstalk. It's almost comical how these talking heads always "comes up" with these scenarios after we've seen the same thing on Spurstalk months before.

[Dejounte]

From the 1:04:30 mark, Gobert and JJ taik about Wemby. Love how they end up agreeing that the most impressive aspects beyond his size and skills are his heart and mind that really seperate him from the rest


https://youtu.be/zi0kmu9NmLk?si=q8HH-Q1sj4RC04iC

Didn’t you blast a couple NBA players for sharing their remarks on a different Spurs player during a podcast saying it was clickbait? Why is this any different?

[Pauleta14]

Didn’t you blast a couple NBA players for sharing their remarks on a different Spurs player during a podcast saying it was clickbait? Why is this any different?

I have no idea what you're talking about... be specific

[exstatic]

I have no idea what you're talking about... be specific

I would guess he’s referring to DJ and maybe Horry. Or maybe Stephen Jackson.

[Pauleta14]

I would guess he’s referring to DJ and maybe Horry. Or maybe Stephen Jackson.


Oh maybe Jaxx

So? I don't see his point really

One is known to be bitter towards the Spurs and TP/Manu specifically, the other has known Victor since he's 14 yo and is emphatetic to his development

[cutewizard]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPAXuB62p8Q

[cutewizard]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uqp6DDGsQp4

[cutewizard]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfh-3k7rm8o

[cutewizard]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJ_GO-0xEOk

[thiste]

Victor has 7 games scoring 30+ in under 35 minutes (11 total).

No other rookie in NBA history has more than 4 of those.

[CorrectCrusader]

Victor has 7 games scoring 30+ in under 35 minutes (11 total).

No other rookie in NBA history has more than 4 of those.

I might actually bust a nut

[thiste]

I might actually bust a nut

Hey it's a stat, and it favors Wemby... had to mention it :lol

[Dejounte]

https://x.com/theoquintard/status/1778980809891869044?s=46

[Pauleta14]

Wemby is the most improved player, within a season, ever.

Absurd improvements

[BatManu20]

1779033607023272393

[BatManu20]

This will be a meme in no time :lol

1779214844442399001