By Mathieu S. | NBA Editor
Completely launched with the Spurs like his latest performances, Victor Wembanyama is not yet completely unanimous today. In question? His three-point shot, with a rather angry observer.
With a new carnage at 50 points, Victor Wembanyama quickly silenced the criticism against the Wizards this week. The fact is that the Frenchman is finally launched into his season, he who hopes to compete in the playoffs for the first time in his young career. And for that, he decided to raise his level of play… or rather to modify it.
Compared to his rookie campaign, Wemby is scoring a few more points, but he is currently grabbing fewer rebounds, going from 10.6 to 10.2. It’s too early to draw a conclusion, not after 12 games in NBAbut this statistic could get worse and for good reason: the person concerned now takes 8.3 three-point shots per game compared to 5.5 last year.
A problem in sight for Victor Wembanyama?
And if Victor has focused on the last few meetings, we know that he is not going to shoot more than 50% every night from behind the arc. THE Spurs need the French to build on their strengths, at least according to polemicist Colin Cowherd, who does not understand the Frenchman’s game. According to him, he needs to be around the circle more often.
Colin Cowherd sur Victor Wembanyama : “We were talking about the fact that Wemby scored 50 points last night… he’s truly an incredible player. But he averages 8.5 three points per game, even though basketball is a sport of mathematics and equations. (…) In American football, you find out what your player can do, and that becomes your attack and your defense. »
“In the NBA, everyone plays the same way. Will take three-point shots. “Yeah but I’m 2m24 and I can dominate inside”, but no, go take three-pointers. So Wembanyama is going down in terms of rebounds because he is away from the rim all the time. And I understand. But in the regular season, it gets boring, it’s just dunks and three-pointers. »
“I don’t mind seeing Steph Curry take three-pointers. But when you’re 2’24… Anthony Davis started taking too many three-pointers at one point, so last year he was getting in the paint more often, and he became one of the three best players in the league. »
Wembanyama does a lot of good at three points, but shouldn’t he come back in the paint to make an even bigger difference? Cowherd thinks so and we imagine he’s not the only one. Unfortunately for him, Wemby and the Spurs have another plan. For now at least.
The Victor Wembanyama case is decidedly complex and far from unanimous among observers. Yes, the Frenchman is shining from three-point range recently, but what happens when he gets clumsy? It’s up to Spurs to manage this well.
