What the Media is Hiding About Victor Wembanyama

[John B]

His feet look like Kermit. I wonder if he’s a natural swimmer like Timmy

Somebody mentioned his relationship with TP wasn’t that great? Where did that come from? I know TP could be pushy when it comes to winning (i.e. comment on Kawhi taking too long to recover), it being his club and all maybe? Was TP trying to push Wemby to play harder maybe?

But I’m sure the Spurs would be patient for the long term

[spurraider21]

Also the comparison with Luka is quite dumb imho, Luka does not have to deal with a freak body. Some will call Victor choices weak I call them smart.

this reads more like a giant red flag than words of encouragement

[Alain]

His feet look like Kermit. I wonder if he’s a natural swimmer like Timmy

Somebody mentioned his relationship with TP wasn’t that great? Where did that come from? I know TP could be pushy when it comes to winning (i.e. comment on Kawhi taking too long to recover), it being his club and all maybe? Was TP trying to push Wemby to play harder maybe?

But I’m sure the Spurs would be patient for the long term

The relationship was good enough until Victor decided to leave. There was an agreement that he would stay with ASVEL this season and would be given more playing time and responsabilities, helping the team to fulfill their Euroleague playoffs quest. So you can understand why Tony is a bit bitter now.
Word is Victor was not fully happy with the coaching (TJ Parker) but I don't think it's the main reason why he left.

[Man In Black]

Greetings, ST...

I just want to point out that it's a fallacy that players above 7-3 are all an injury risk. One can easily say that because Zion, Kawhi, and Paul George, were injured for the playoffs, that players under 6-9 are injury risks.

Someone provided a list of all players 7-3 and above and told me that there is a high likelihood that because Wenbenyama is above that height, he's totally an injury risk. Is he though?

I will include a photo of the list and also, I point out that Lew Alcindor came into the NBA at 7-2 215 lbs never playing a weight higher than 225 lbs.

It's a LONG read but the logic shows... Just because you are tall, that doesn't mean you are going to suffer injuries. A LOT OF IT IS HOW ONE PLAYS. Since VW has a Jump Shot, he could lessen his time in the paint for punishment. Plus, he's more likely the OUTER POST in a Pop Offense. It means that Pop will have Collins or whatever FA Big he gets, should the Spurs win the VW Draft Lottery.



It is missing lots of relevant data to help one determine if injuries are the reason these 7-3 players had their careers cut short. (TLDR-Many did not, they just weren't good enough to stick at the NBA Level)

I've listed how many seasons each has played plus games started and then included average minutes played.

If they started a lot of games, they were relevant. If they averaged more than 20 Minutes Per Game, then that also made them relevant.

The bulk of your list shows many of the players weren't relevant. And it wasn't due to injury. It was simply because they weren't good enough/didn't fit in the NBA. You can see all of them with the listing of MINUSCULE CAREER.

Your list is predicated by them simply being 7-3 and above. But alas, the NBA requires more than simply being tall and some of these players did not fulfill those criteria.

When context is added, one could learn so much more about the players on this list and if they had any sort of real game that made them RELEVANT AND if their injuries ACTUALLY cut short their careers.

Since you didn't provide that, I took the time to do that work to prove my point. Your list by itself is pretty weak and the logic using that list without context is weak as well.

I added a + Score if they were INJURY PLAYERS and a - Score if they were NOT INJURY PLAYERS.

Again, the only one’s worth talking about are those who ARE NOT labeled with MINUSCULE CAREERS.

Then we have more of a discussion.

HERE ARE ALL THE PLAYERS FROM THAT LIST YOU PROVIDED:

Gheorghe Muresan 7-7 303 lbs (Slow-Plodder)
6 Seasons Played
307 Games Total and Started 207 Games.
21.9 Minutes Per Game Average.
Decent Career Cut Short by Back and Knee Injuries
(Injuries happened a lot with him so he's an Injury guy (+1))
Okay Career

Manute Bol 7-7 200 lbs (Ectomorph)
12 Seasons Played 624 Games Total and Started 133 Games.
18.7 Minutes Per Game Average.
12 Seasons and then went on to play in Italy.
(Not an Injury guy (-1))
Good Career

Tacko Fall 7-6 311 lbs (Slow-Plodder)
3 Seasons Played
37 Games Total and Started 1 Game.
6.2 Minutes Per Game Average.
(Not an injury guy, just a bad fit. Was out of the league this season (-2))
Minuscule Career

Slavko Vranes 7-6 275 lbs (Slow Plodder)
1 Season Played 1 Game Total and didn't do anything.
(Not an injury guy (-3))
Minuscule Career

Shawn Bradley 7-6 235 lbs. (Ectomorph)
14 Seasons Played 832 Games Total and Started 484 Games.
23.5 Minutes Per Game Average.
(Had injury issues but 14 seasons is pretty solid. But I will say he's an Injury Guy (+2))
Good Career

Yao Ming 7-6 310 lbs (Slow Plodder)
9 Seasons Played 486 Games Total and Started 476 Games.
32.5 Minutes Per Game Average.
(Lost a whole season due to foot issues and that eventually ended his career. Injury guy (3+))
Good Career

Chuck Nevitt 7-5 217 lbs (Ectomorph)
9 Seasons Played 155 Games Total and Started 0 Games.
5.3 Minutes Per Game Average.
(A career backup and not an injury guy (-4))
Minuscule Career

Pavel Podkolzin 7-5 260 lbs (Slow Plodder)
2 Seasons Played
6 Games Total and Started 0 Games.
4.7 Minutes Per Game Average
(Not an injury guy (-5))
Minuscule Career

Sim Bhullar 7-5 360 lbs (Slow Plodder)
1 Season Played 3 Games Total and Started 0 Games.
1.0 Minutes Per Game Average.
(Not an injury guy (-6))
Minuscule Career

Mark Eaton 7-4 275 lbs (Slow Plodder)
11 Seasons Played 875 Games Total and Started 815 Games.
28.8 Minutes Per Game Average.
(Not an injury guy (-7))
Solid Career

Rik Smits 7-4 250 lbs (Mobile Big)
12 Seasons Played 867 Games Total and Started 792 Games.
26.6 Minutes Per Game Average.
(Not an injury guy (-8))
Solid Career

Ralph Sampson 7-4 228 lbs (Ectomorph)
10 Seasons Played 456 Games Total and Started 363 Games.
29.8 Minutes Per Game Average.
(Injury guy with chronic issues starting in his 4th season (+4))
Good Career Cut Short by Injury

Boban Marjanovic 7-4 290 lbs (Slow Plodder)
8 Seasons Played 317 Games Total and Started 25 Games.
8.9 Minutes Per Game Average.
(Career Backup and not an injury guy (-9))
Good Career still active

Priest Lauderdale 7-4 325 lbs (Slow Plodder)
2 Seasons Played 74 Games Total and Started 0 Games.
7.1 Minutes Per Game Average. (Not an Injury Guy (-10))
Minuscule Career

Peter John Ramos 7-3.5 275 lbs (Slow Plodder)
1 Season Played 6 Games Total and Started 0 Games.
3.3 Minutes Per Game Average.
(Not an Injury Guy (-11))
Minuscule Career

Randy Breur 7-3 230 lbs (Mobile Big)
11 Seasons Played 681 Games Total and Started 285 Games.
18.4 Minutes Per Game Average.
(Not an Injury Guy (-12))
Good Career

Zydrunas Ilgauskas 7-3 232 lbs (Slow Plodder)
13 Seasons Played 843 Games Total and Started 724 Games.
27.2 Minutes Per Game Average. (He had injuries at the start of his career, but he finished his last few seasons as a solid role player.
(Not an Injury Guy (-13))
Good Career

Arvydas Sabonis 7-3 279 lbs (Slow Plodder) 7
7 Seasons Played 470 Games Total and Started 314 Games.
24.2 Minutes Per Game Average. (He too had injuries at the start of his career Overseas in Lithuania and Spain, but he finished his last few seasons at Portland as a solid role player.
(Not an Injury Guy (-14))
Good Career

Hasheem Thabeet 7-3 260 lbs (Somewhat Mobile Big)
5 Seasons Played 224 Games Total and Started 20 Games.
10.5 Minutes Per Game Average.
(Not an Injury Guy (-15))
Minuscule Career

Swede Holbrook 7-3 235 lbs (Slow Plodder)
2 Seasons Played 143 Games Total and Started 0 Games.
14.3 Minutes Per Game Average.
The only player on this list that I never got a chance to see play live. He last played in 1962.
(Not an Injury Guy (-16))
Minuscule Career

Keith Closs 7-3 212 lbs (Ectomorph)
3 Seasons Played 130 Games Total and Started 7 Games.
12.7 Minutes Per Game Average.
(Not an Injury Guy (-17))
Minuscule Career

Ha Seung-Jin 7-3 305 lbs (Slow Plodder)
2 Seasons Played 46 Games Total and Started 4 Games.
6.9 Minutes Per Game Average.
(Not an Injury Guy (-18))
Minuscule Career

Aleksandr Radojevic 7-3 250 lbs (Slow Plodder)
2 Seasons Played 15 Games Total and Started 6 Games.
10.1 Minutes Per Game Average.
(Not an Injury Guy (-19))
Minuscule Career


Walter Taveres 7-3 260 lbs (Slow Plodder)
2 Seasons Played 13 Games Total and Started 0 Games.
7.8 Minutes Per Game Average.
(Not an Injury Guy (-20))

Tibor Pleiß 7-3 256 lbs (Slow Plodder)
1 Season Played 12 Games Total and Started 0 Games.
6.8 Minutes Per Game Average.
(Not an Injury Guy (-21))
Minuscule Career

Kristaps Porzingis 7-3 240 lbs. (Mobile Big)
8 Seasons Played 402 Games Total and Started 401 Games.
31.1 Minutes Per Game Average.
(He missed a full year due to ACL Tear. But for the most part he's been mostly on than off and is a core player for Washington. However, I will place him as an Injury Guy (+5))
Good Career Still Active

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 7-2 225 lbs. (Mobile Big)
20 Seasons Played 1560 Games Total and Started 1560 Games.
36.8 Minutes Per Game Average.
(Not an Injury Guy (-22))
Hall of Fame Career

CONTEXT IS EVERYTHING, DETAILS MATTER.

[wildbill2u]

I wonder if the foot injury malady isn't more related to the actual construction of the feet and arches, rather than height. You don't have to be a giant to have chronic feet problems because of fallen arches or whatever. Almost Every pro basketball player is, by definition, something of a freak of nature in regards to average height and with that extra size also comes extra weight compared to the rest of the population. So these are BIG MEN. But the pounding and stress that comes with running that court back and forth along with jumping to maximum height levels is going to take its toll on feet that have something of a construction problem. I suppose that Bill Walton is one of the most well-known players whose feet problems led to a less than maximum potential career. And there is the controversy on his actual height being over 6'11''. I doubt it would throw him into the 7'3" range, but he is one of the bigs who had chronic foot problems.

[JPB]

Greetings, ST...

I just want to point out that it's a fallacy that players above 7-3 are all an injury risk. One can easily say that because Zion, Kawhi, and Paul George, were injured for the playoffs, that players under 6-9 are injury risks.

Someone provided a list of all players 7-3 and above and told me that there is a high likelihood that because Wenbenyama is above that height, he's totally an injury risk. Is he though?

I will include a photo of the list and also, I point out that Lew Alcindor came into the NBA at 7-2 215 lbs never playing a weight higher than 225 lbs.

It's a LONG read but the logic shows... Just because you are tall, that doesn't mean you are going to suffer injuries. A LOT OF IT IS HOW ONE PLAYS. Since VW has a Jump Shot, he could lessen his time in the paint for punishment. Plus, he's more likely the OUTER POST in a Pop Offense. It means that Pop will have Collins or whatever FA Big he gets, should the Spurs win the VW Draft Lottery.

All the euro guys in that list have only their NBA career taken into account...

- Muresan indeed played 6 years in the NBA but played 2 years in Europe before.
- Arvydas Sabonis played 14 years in Europe before his 7 seasons in the NBA.
- Tibor Pleiß sure only played one year in the NBA but is still active in his 16 year career and counting...
- Aleksandar Radojević sure only played 2 seasons in the NBA but had a 17 year career or so.
- Zydrunas Ilgauskas had a 17 year career. too.

[Rocalcio]

His feet look like Kermit. I wonder if he’s a natural swimmer like Timmy

Somebody mentioned his relationship with TP wasn’t that great? Where did that come from? I know TP could be pushy when it comes to winning (i.e. comment on Kawhi taking too long to recover), it being his club and all maybe? Was TP trying to push Wemby to play harder maybe?

But I’m sure the Spurs would be patient for the long term

Not TP but TJ, his brother, who coaches ASVEL.

[John B]

Not TP but TJ, his brother, who coaches ASVEL.

Thanks. I know Wemby would be cautious of his health in preparation for the draft. But I would understand TJ’s position as a coach trying to win games. I would expect Wemby to still be compe ive unless they were exhibition games.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

CONTEXT IS EVERYTHING, DETAILS MATTER.[/b]

Smits, Yao, Sabonis (who was at the tail end of his career), and Porzingis are the only guys over 7'2" in the history of the NBA who were impact players (not role players) with the ability to lead a team who you list as not injury prone. Yao (and a young Sabonis) are the two who would qualify as franchise players. Yao really only had 4 seasons that weren't marred by injury (seasons he appeared in 60 or more games), so leaves Sabonis as the one super tall player over 7'2" who could sustain himself as the center of the franchise, and with him playing most of his career with shorter Euro seasons his durability is speculative. I'm not sure your list paints a rosy picture. In fact I'd argue the opposite.

[scott]

Smits, Yao, Sabonis (who was at the tail end of his career), and Porzingis are the only guys over 7'2" in the history of the NBA who were impact players (not role players) with the ability to lead a team who you list as not injury prone. Yao (and a young Sabonis) are the two who would qualify as franchise players. Yao really only had 4 seasons that weren't marred by injury (seasons he appeared in 60 or more games), so leaves Sabonis as the one super tall player over 7'2" who could sustain himself as the center of the franchise, and with him playing most of his career with shorter Euro seasons his durability is speculative. I'm not sure your list paints a rosy picture. In fact I'd argue the opposite.

Yeah, showing us a bunch of tall scrubs who never got hurt before the league spit them out isn't exactly compelling evidence of anything.

[Proxy]

Translation: "Yes cheese breakfast I'm hot a green dog no no no"

for those non polyglots among us...

[Man In Black]

Yeah, showing us a bunch of tall scrubs who never got hurt before the league spit them out isn't exactly compelling evidence of anything.

AGREED! That list was what someone used to say that Wemby was doomed because he is tall. I pointed out that by showing the stats and how long each was in the NBA, that the bulk of that list of players were IRRELEVANT.

[Man In Black]

Smits, Yao, Sabonis (who was at the tail end of his career), and Porzingis are the only guys over 7'2" in the history of the NBA who were impact players (not role players) with the ability to lead a team who you list as not injury prone. Yao (and a young Sabonis) are the two who would qualify as franchise players. Yao really only had 4 seasons that weren't marred by injury (seasons he appeared in 60 or more games), so leaves Sabonis as the one super tall player over 7'2" who could sustain himself as the center of the franchise, and with him playing most of his career with shorter Euro seasons his durability is speculative. I'm not sure your list paints a rosy picture. In fact I'd argue the opposite.

That was my point. That list of 7-3 players was what someone used to say that Wemby is doomed. I countered and added the stats to show how IRRELEVANT most of those players were in the NBA.

Also, Helicopter, in an ideal world, Wemby is the next coming of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, a 7-2 Wunderkind who did it all in the NBA. We could only be so lucky, if he ends up wearing the Silver and Black.

[Brazil]

this reads more like a giant red flag than words of encouragement

giant red flag... He is a freak athlete, is it riskier to draft him health wise than say Scoot ? yes absolutely... but so what ?
What is encouraging is the fact he is a smart kid, taking sound decisions to protect his future also he is having a full season now in a compe ive environment without injuries.

There is no scenario in which you pass him up, the gap between him and the rest is too large... we are not talking Oden here.

[Brazil]

That was my point. That list of 7-3 players was what someone used to say that Wemby is doomed. I countered and added the stats to show how IRRELEVANT most of those players were in the NBA.

Also, Helicopter, in an ideal world, Wemby is the next coming of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, a 7-2 Wunderkind who did it all in the NBA. We could only be so lucky, if he ends up wearing the Silver and Black.

I keep forgetting but Kareem was a legit 7"2, Victor is "just" 2 ou 3 cm taller

[spurraider21]

giant red flag... He is a freak athlete, is it riskier to draft him health wise than say Scoot ? yes absolutely... but so what ?
What is encouraging is the fact he is a smart kid, taking sound decisions to protect his future also he is having a full season now in a compe ive environment without injuries.

There is no scenario in which you pass him up, the gap between him and the rest is too large... we are not talking Oden here.

i have never once suggested he should be passed up. you can read my post history on him lol.

but if im criticizing him for not playing at higher levels and competing in euroleague (as opposed to Luka), i dont like hearing "yeah but he can get injured easy" as the excuse.

[Brazil]

i have never once suggested he should be passed up. you can read my post history on him lol.

but if im criticizing him for not playing at higher levels and competing in euroleague (as opposed to Luka), i dont like hearing "yeah but he can get injured easy" as the excuse.

An excuse or an explanation ? An excuse would mean he is afraid or something... I don't think he is afraid of playing in euroleague

As I said previously he is a nature freak, last season he had plenty of minor injuries.. one year before draft he is privileging preparation and health over playing for a big european team... that's quite smart if you ask me.

If you draft him you will have to deal with that... that's why I pray the gods (prayingdog.gif) that San Antonio draft him, it's an organization smart enough to handle dat freakish body. If the Spurs get him prepare yourself to be concerned for his health hopefully he will end with a career ala Kareem but he can land on yao or oden territories.

[Ariel]

Smits, Yao, Sabonis (who was at the tail end of his career), and Porzingis are the only guys over 7'2" in the history of the NBA who were impact players (not role players) with the ability to lead a team who you list as not injury prone. Yao (and a young Sabonis) are the two who would qualify as franchise players. Yao really only had 4 seasons that weren't marred by injury (seasons he appeared in 60 or more games), so leaves Sabonis as the one super tall player over 7'2" who could sustain himself as the center of the franchise, and with him playing most of his career with shorter Euro seasons his durability is speculative. I'm not sure your list paints a rosy picture. In fact I'd argue the opposite.

Sabonis and Yao were probably closer to 300 lbs, Ric Smits not quite but definitely heavier, and those are not small details. All in all, probably the closest comparison body wise to Wemby is actually Kareem and nobody else, I think the inch or 2 of height difference matters far less than 100 lbs of extra weight. So Wemby is such an outlier that there are next to no valid comparisons to go by.

[ambchang]

Body wise and even to an extent skill wise, Ralph Sampson is pretty much the only comparison.

But so what? I can’t think of a single nba prospect who has no risks since Lebron. And with the draft players getting younger and younger, the skills of the player become less and less developed. This more and more risks. Wemby is the one, maybe he’s be marred with injuries like Ralph Sampson, maybe he’d kill it become the next Kareem. Who knows?

[james evans]

if we get him, he's gonna kill in the G league next season.

[Allan Rowe vs Wade]

what are victor's views on open carry?