Question: Do you think Victor Wembanyama is already a top 25 player in the league? I asked myself this question in recent weeks. Maybe because the guys from my favourite NBA podcast, “Jeden Tag NBA”, that’s German for “Everyday NBA”, were discussing that question before the start of the season.
A listener had asked whether Wemby could be a top 25 player in his rookie year. The prenseters thought it would be unfair to put such expectations on Wemby, because very few rookies ever had a legitimate case of being considered a top 25 player in the league. But they’re as flabbergasted by the development Wemby has taken over his rookie season than everyone else is.
Frankly, I wasn’t entirely sure how to answer the question. “It’s possible,” I thought. But I’m also aware I’m wearing Silver-and-Black-tinged glasses. So, I asked Google. I typed in: “Top 25 NBA players 2024”, to make sure Wemby was included.
The first thing that popped up, and, in fact, the only list that made sense from the date of publication was a list by sportsnaut.com from 18 March, which has Wemby coming in at No27. Would Wemby rank higher in the list four weeks on? I’m inclined to say: he would.
It was only a one and a half weeks ago that Sam Vecenie on his “Game Theory” podcast had this to say about the French Phenom: “If you told me he’s the best player in the NBA by the time he’s in his third year, I would believe that Victor Wembanyama has just like broken basketball in that way.”
The fact that Victor Wembanyama is able to break whoever is in his way was on full display last night against the Nuggets.
Takeaways:
- Wemby will be a Top 10 player next season: Against a full-strength Denver Nuggets, who still had to play for the No1 seeding in the West, Wemby triggered a gargantuan comeback win for his Spurs with a ridiculous third-quarter three-peat from deep. He outscored, outrebounded, and, needless to say, outblocked his opposite number, Nikola Jokic, who’s probably the best player on the planet right now. Wemby also played his role in putting five fouls to the Joker’s name, while only collecting one foul himself. Other stuff: Wemby’s playmaking continues to evolve, and, yet again, there were these moments in which you can only think: How does he do it? Like when Michael Porter Jr. attacked Wemby’s closeout, but Wemby still managed to stay in front of him. Okay, Porter Jr. made the midi, but who cares? The way Wemby is putting his stamp on a game like that, while still scoring rather inefficiently and losing the ball seven times, really makes you wonder where he will be once he manages to improve in those departments. Top 10 next season seems like a reasonable expectation at this stage.
- With Devin Vassell, Jeremy Sochan, and Keldon Johnson sidelined, other players have been using the garbage time of the season to play themselves into the limelight: Julian Champagnie was given a four-year/12-million contract last off-season and performances like last night’s have me believe the Spurs are having themselves a solid solid backup wing for the long run. We knew he could make threes. What’s new, at least to me, is the ferocity with which he is able to attack the rim and dunk the ball. Same same, but different: Sandro Mamukelashvili. The way the big fella is able to dance through the opposing defense to attack the rim is a thing of beauty. Sean Elliot said it during the broadcasts: It’s Mamu, but it looks like Manu.
- Four years ago, Devonte’ Graham averaged 35.1 minutes, 18.2 points, and 7.5 assists on a team that finished ninth in the Easter conference. This season with the Spurs, Graham largely had to sit out. He never complained about it, at least not publicly. Instead, what went public were stories about Devonte’ being that kind of teammate you can only wish for. For large portions of the season, the TV cameras only got him frenetically cheering whenever one of his teammates did something great. He probably would have exploded if he got to see himself win the game for his teammates with two clutch shots in a row. I couldn’t be happier for Devonte’.
First appeared on www.poundingtherock.com