Spurs and Warriors will meet in the regular season on November 23rd for the first of the duels: it will be Victor Wembanyama again against Steph Curry. Last night against GSW Wemby perhaps impressed more than in other pre-season games for his completeness: the five blocks stand out, the ability to occupy defensive space with 225 centimeters and his wingspan with 243.
Think about how much more impressive he could be when he familiarizes himself with the NBA and its offenses; or perhaps it will be the opponents, game after game, who will have to adapt to the big Frenchman. That’s why Wemby led fans and the entire basketball world to naturally create all thehype with which he was welcomed into the league, something that hasn’t been felt since 2003 when LeBron James was just 18 years old and about to change the world of basketball.
Ecco. We don’t know if Victor will follow in his footsteps of those who – perhaps after the 21st season in the NBA – could hand over the baton to him, but the feeling is that we are witnessing something truly unique; a generational talent, a boy who already at 16 years old was giving Rudy Gobert, the Defensive Player of the Year, a run for his money in one-on-one training. The comparison with LeBron James is the most common obviously: also the 19 year old originally from Le Chesnay, like LBJ, he breaks down the concept of role and there’s one snapshot that sticks in my mind after last night’s game between San Antonio and Golden State: the tip-off with Curry.
A decidedly ironic way to archive the pre-season tests. Beyond his sarcasm, Steve Kerr provided the assist for food for thought. Seeing the Frenchman and the 4-time NBA Champion compared is not only suggestive due to the difference in height and size: just as Steph has changed the way defenses play, the former Metropolitan92 is the next one destined to write the fate of the evolution of the game like Curry did with his three-point shot. Wembanyama has an impressive breadth of means at its disposal: it’s a mix between Tim Duncan and David Robinson due to his height, his great positional sense in rebounding and defense – aided by an obviously facilitating size – with the addition of the three-point shot, the ability to dribble, pass the ball like a guard and move on the court remembering Kevin Durant.
“He’s been compared more to LeBron James than to those two guys (Duncan and Robinson, ed.). I worried about this aspect and one of my worries was how to protect him, ensure that he concentrated on certain aspects but I immediately felt that he looked at me as if he was asking me why I was telling him these things. He is very intelligent, he knows how to deal with things, so I don’t worry about him anymore”
Gregg Popovich
Potentially deadly in attack as he can be in defense where he can really be compared in all respects to Duncan and Robinson, two of the best rim protectors in the history of the franchise. It is no coincidence that Victor, a few hours after being chosen by the Spurs in the draft, went to listen to some secrets at a dinner with the two legends, together with Manu Ginobili and compatriot Tony Parker.
Almost 5 blocks per game on averagea bit like placing the Eiffel Tower near the basket. Judging by the first outings, Victor has begun to put into practice what he heard from his mentors and if these will also be the regular season averages, best wishes to the NBA forwards. The titles of Rookie e Defensive Player of the Year are enormously within his reach, but the most interesting part will be to observe the coming years of his career. A revolutionary wave is about to arrive, and Wembanyama will proudly wave the French flag.
2023-10-21 16:20:21
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