I have never seen a player improve as rapidly at something as Victor Wembanyama has improved at NBA defense. Not that he was bad to start — he’s been good since day one! Wembanyama flashed his court-guzzling defensive prowess right from the preseason, gobbling up entire possessions like a basketball
Wemby's defense right now is not just good enough to get him into the DPOY conversation, it's the best reason to turn that roster over now. Move the non-defenders and poor shooters for 2nd rounders or vets with mentorship qualities. Vassell and Sochan are keepers (keep Sochan away from the point though); move Keldon Johnson for Tyus Jones, and get active with buyouts and free agents like Javonte Green. It's time form Wemby to have decent teammates and for Pop to get to coach instead of babysitting.
I agree with you. This season has given the Spurs a lot more direction on what they need roster-wise, so while I doubt they do much at the deadline, I do think we'll see some moves this offseason, with KJ as the most obvious candidate. They need a point guard for sure, and a power forward with some shooting (although the emergence of Julian Champagnie there in the last month or so may change that equation -- I really like him).
Like you mentioned about Branham's horrific defense, Wemby's defensive potential is sky high once the Spurs management provide him with the adequate defensive weapons to just focus on the inside/block area.
One thing I do wonder, and you might know the answer and it was briefly answered in your article,
As someone who does not watch too many Spurs games, do you think Wemby will be a defender picked on by smaller guards to draw out to the perimeter? Or is his defense in the mismatch at a mid to high level?
It's definitely the weakest part of his game, but it's not necessarily the quickness that gives him the problems, it's the shiftiness. He can make one lateral move decently, but if he has to change directions multiple times it can be a problem. And he's also prone to overcommitting on shooters and popping out of his defensive stance when he might be better off just staying low with hands held high. Like, James Harden is hardly quick, but his deceleration and quick trigger had Wemby all over the place on a few possessions when they played the Clippers.
The Spurs have so many worse perimeter defenders that I don't think teams really go at Wemby as much as they could in that regard. If everyone's bad, easier to target a guy who's NOT 7'4" ha, it just gives him a huge margin for error even when he's at a quickness deficit.
I think eventually he'll reach a place where he is fine on the perimeter, sort of like Gobert today. There will always be the occasional blow-bys, but that's the trade-off for being elite at everything else.
This is so cringe, it is embarrassing. Victor can’t guard the post, doesn’t switch well, falls over his feet, can’t get contested defensive rebounds and mostly off ball shot blocks. He is possibly the most over rated player I have seen in 50 years of watching the nba. He has horrendous shot selection, zero post moves, is stripped easily, and is basically scores by beating his man down the floor or because he is tall. Victor has NO DISCERNIBLE SKILL OTHER THAN BEING TALL
Wemby's defense right now is not just good enough to get him into the DPOY conversation, it's the best reason to turn that roster over now. Move the non-defenders and poor shooters for 2nd rounders or vets with mentorship qualities. Vassell and Sochan are keepers (keep Sochan away from the point though); move Keldon Johnson for Tyus Jones, and get active with buyouts and free agents like Javonte Green. It's time form Wemby to have decent teammates and for Pop to get to coach instead of babysitting.
The Jones brothers, reunited again!
I agree with you. This season has given the Spurs a lot more direction on what they need roster-wise, so while I doubt they do much at the deadline, I do think we'll see some moves this offseason, with KJ as the most obvious candidate. They need a point guard for sure, and a power forward with some shooting (although the emergence of Julian Champagnie there in the last month or so may change that equation -- I really like him).
Great article! Wemby is always exciting to watch for both his defense and offense.
Thanks! Definitely some rough edges, but I have enjoyed seeing him grow before our eyes
Like you mentioned about Branham's horrific defense, Wemby's defensive potential is sky high once the Spurs management provide him with the adequate defensive weapons to just focus on the inside/block area.
One thing I do wonder, and you might know the answer and it was briefly answered in your article,
As someone who does not watch too many Spurs games, do you think Wemby will be a defender picked on by smaller guards to draw out to the perimeter? Or is his defense in the mismatch at a mid to high level?
It's definitely the weakest part of his game, but it's not necessarily the quickness that gives him the problems, it's the shiftiness. He can make one lateral move decently, but if he has to change directions multiple times it can be a problem. And he's also prone to overcommitting on shooters and popping out of his defensive stance when he might be better off just staying low with hands held high. Like, James Harden is hardly quick, but his deceleration and quick trigger had Wemby all over the place on a few possessions when they played the Clippers.
The Spurs have so many worse perimeter defenders that I don't think teams really go at Wemby as much as they could in that regard. If everyone's bad, easier to target a guy who's NOT 7'4" ha, it just gives him a huge margin for error even when he's at a quickness deficit.
I think eventually he'll reach a place where he is fine on the perimeter, sort of like Gobert today. There will always be the occasional blow-bys, but that's the trade-off for being elite at everything else.
This is so cringe, it is embarrassing. Victor can’t guard the post, doesn’t switch well, falls over his feet, can’t get contested defensive rebounds and mostly off ball shot blocks. He is possibly the most over rated player I have seen in 50 years of watching the nba. He has horrendous shot selection, zero post moves, is stripped easily, and is basically scores by beating his man down the floor or because he is tall. Victor has NO DISCERNIBLE SKILL OTHER THAN BEING TALL