The Parisian Patisserie of Victor Wembanyama

[TD 21]

Wembanyama is a more extreme version of Davis physically and skillset wise because he's a generation later, but I expect his career to follow a similar trajectory.

The latter balked (and still does, yet plays it basically exclusively) at not just being known as a C (a la Duncan), but actually playing it (a la Aldridge until he was basically forced to) and attempted to be more of a perimeter type first as opposed to a big with perimeter skills.

Flash forward to mid career and he's very much morphed into the latter.

[tim_duncan_fan]

Im more ok with Vic emulating Dirk, those drive and fadeaways were killer

Dirk was a great player, but not particularly well-rounded and not always close to winning a championship. I will always like Dirk, but playing that way is sub-optimal when you are 7foot. There are better things to be doing, and the game gets a little more out of sorts for the opposing team when the scoring and assisting is more post-oriented.

Vic looks like he wants to be a cutesy wing player, but that's a waste of time. You can play big and have a jumpshot for when you get caught out near the perimeter, but the perimeter is not where you hang all the time when you are trying to have all-around control of the game.

[Obstructed_View]

I love when fans make these sweeping pronouncements about a 19 year old unicorn who hasn't even figured out where he fits on an NBA court yet.

[rjv]

I love when fans make these sweeping pronouncements about a 19 year old unicorn who hasn't even figured out where he fits on an NBA court yet.

i was thinking the same thing. wemby and the spurs don't even know how he is going to wind playing but the ST experts already have him boxed in.

[MannyIsGod]

I honestly don't even blame him for the 0-7 shooting. To me, that is all on Pop. I get not wanting to limit what this dude can be, but I find it really hard to think of a scenario where 27 foot jumpers with 18 on the shot clock are ever going to be a highly efficient shot.

For me, I don't mind him shooting jumpers. I certainly don't mind him shooting 3s. If you take away all the really poor 3 point decisions that are simply self inflicted wounds, he's shooting pretty damn well from deep. Even off the dribble he's not too bad.

I don't know why people don't want him shooting jumpers. He's got a very high quality jumper and its a completely unblockable shot that he can get over anyone. This is going to be a staple moving forward. Its good. But I definitely want him shooting more mid ranged jumpers over people and 3s that are actually open and in the flow of the offense.

People saying he shoots too many jumpers are insane, IMO.

[MannyIsGod]

Dirk was a great player, but not particularly well-rounded and not always close to winning a championship. I will always like Dirk, but playing that way is sub-optimal when you are 7foot. There are better things to be doing, and the game gets a little more out of sorts for the opposing team when the scoring and assisting is more post-oriented.

Vic looks like he wants to be a cutesy wing player, but that's a waste of time. You can play big and have a jumpshot for when you get caught out near the perimeter, but the perimeter is not where you hang all the time when you are trying to have all-around control of the game.

This is nonsense. Plenty of players have controlled the game from the perimeter. That idea that Wemby can't do that is ridiculous. The kid obviously loves to dunk and looks to do so all the damn time but he's also right to try to have a 3 point game. His jump shot will likely be unstoppable. How do you stop this guy from shooting 18 footers over you all night? How do you stop that? Why force someone with his body type to pound in the post if he can just raise up and constantly hit an 18 footer instead?

[exstatic]

Still shoots WAY too many jumpers

The thing is, he’s always open. There’s never a contest. Live game action isn’t materially different from shoot around for him.

[offset formation]

Thanks for posting. Translations/CC were though.

[DAF86]

I love when fans make these sweeping pronouncements about a 19 year old unicorn who hasn't even figured out where he fits on an NBA court yet.

i was thinking the same thing. wemby and the spurs don't even know how he is going to wind playing but the ST experts already have him boxed in.

It really isn't difficult at all to see how Wemby's skillset would be best utilized, tbh.

Anyone having trouble accepting that Wemby is a bigman just mindlessly bought the "7'5" Kevin Durant" narrative and is whishfully waiting for it to happen, when it never will.

It's ok, though. Wemby can be way more dominant than Durant playing the inside out bigman game ala Jokic, only with his own style.

[TheBallsbreakers]

I agree. When those shots start falling people are gonna be saying differently.
However, shots at the rim should be preferred and should be more his staple.
I don't understand why they went away from the approach they took in the second Suns game.
Victor throws better entry passes than his teammates, FFS.

[Pauleta14]

2nd Suns game their idiot coach went small ball (even surprised Pop who thought Nurkic was injured at the press conference)

No other team did it since

[Alain]

It really isn't difficult at all to see how Wemby's skillset would be best utilized, tbh.

So wrong.
As of now, it is almost impossible to see anything...
What Victor brings is not only new, it is unthinkable. There is no precedent, no actual or past players to compare him with. The Durant comparaison might be the most accurate, but by defaut and does not show even half of the whole picture. It's like discovering a brand new, exotic, unpredictable particle; at some point, if you want to have an idea of what it is made of and how it can be useful, you have to throw it in the colisioner and see what's happening. This is what they are doing right now, and it may take some time.

[TheBallsbreakers]

Shaq would insist you're wrong, though.

There's Bol Bol before him.

[spursparker9]

[daslicer]

Wembanyama is a more extreme version of Davis physically and skillset wise because he's a generation later, but I expect his career to follow a similar trajectory.

The latter balked (and still does, yet plays it basically exclusively) at not just being known as a C (a la Duncan), but actually playing it (a la Aldridge until he was basically forced to) and attempted to be more of a perimeter type first as opposed to a big with perimeter skills.

Flash forward to mid career and he's very much morphed into the latter.

Agreed he reminds me of an extreme AD.

[exstatic]

It really isn't difficult at all to see how Wemby's skillset would be best utilized, tbh.

Anyone having trouble accepting that Wemby is a bigman just mindlessly bought the "7'5" Kevin Durant" narrative and is whishfully waiting for it to happen, when it never will.

It's ok, though. Wemby can be way more dominant than Durant playing the inside out bigman game ala Jokic, only with his own style.

Jokic doesn’t set up inside on the block. He sets up outside looking for cutters, then his shot, then maybe a backdown. He definitely plays outside, in.

[DAF86]

So wrong.
As of now, it is almost impossible to see anything...
What Victor brings is not only new, it is unthinkable. There is no precedent, no actual or past players to compare him with. The Durant comparaison might be the most accurate, but by defaut and does not show even half of the whole picture. It's like discovering a brand new, exotic, unpredictable particle; at some point, if you want to have an idea of what it is made of and how it can be useful, you have to throw it in the colisioner and see what's happening. This is what they are doing right now, and it may take some time.

I'll get back to you when Wemby inevitably ends up playing as a fulltime bigman. It might be this season, or the next one, it won't take more than that if the Spurs are serious about helping Wemby develop into the best player he can become.

[Kawhi Duncan]

I would like to see Wemby run a pick and roll as the ball handler

[Kawhi Duncan]

I honestly don't even blame him for the 0-7 shooting. To me, that is all on Pop. I get not wanting to limit what this dude can be, but I find it really hard to think of a scenario where 27 foot jumpers with 18 on the shot clock are ever going to be a highly efficient shot.

For me, I don't mind him shooting jumpers. I certainly don't mind him shooting 3s. If you take away all the really poor 3 point decisions that are simply self inflicted wounds, he's shooting pretty damn well from deep. Even off the dribble he's not too bad.

I don't know why people don't want him shooting jumpers. He's got a very high quality jumper and its a completely unblockable shot that he can get over anyone. This is going to be a staple moving forward. Its good. But I definitely want him shooting more mid ranged jumpers over people and 3s that are actually open and in the flow of the offense.

People saying he shoots too many jumpers are insane, IMO.

Exactly... I'd also like to see him come off screens where he has the option to shoot or attack

[Degoat]

I know the spurs don’t operate this way but Wemby has exceeded my expectations, wouldnt one want to start surrounding him with better talent if something becomes available in a trade?

[PrimeMinister]

I know the spurs don’t operate this way but Wemby has exceeded my expectations, wouldnt one want to start surrounding him with better talent if something becomes available in a trade?

would for me need to be a guy on his first contract yet to hit RFA or locked into an extension. we're likely to have at least 4 first rounders in the next 2 drafts and even more down the line. some combination of picks and players are gonna have to be consolidated at some point. is that this offseason? we'll see. but there's certainly no need to scramble and make a deal just for the sake of it.

[scott]

Great stat here

[spurraider21]

[Pauleta14]

[Obstructed_View]

It really isn't difficult at all to see how Wemby's skillset would be best utilized, tbh.

Anyone having trouble accepting that Wemby is a bigman just mindlessly bought the "7'5" Kevin Durant" narrative and is whishfully waiting for it to happen, when it never will.

You say it isn't hard, but it sounds like you got it exactly wrong. He is way closer to KD than to any center who has ever played, and he demonstrates it every game. There's no waiting for it to happen. He has elite ball handling skills and a butter smooth jumper. He is a great passer and excels on the fast break.

He gets bodied up and mauled down low and hasn't learned to draw whistles. He has basically only scored on dunks or circus shots in the paint so far. Traditional center is literally his worst position right now. I have zero doubt he will come in next year and dominate at that position because of his smarts and will to be great, but it's a weakness to exploit right now.