Victor Wembanyama has gone up another level
He's made major strides on offense. This is scary for the rest of the league.
Before the season, I wrote that Victor Wembanyama still has to find his spots on offense and develop the kind of “go-to-move that can beat any type of defender.” Well, it’s early, but it looks like he’s found some.
His 40-point season-opening extravaganza against Dallas resulted in an outrageous highlight reel. If you haven’t seen it, watch it.
Wemby is stronger now and has tighter footwork. Last season, he ran endless pick and pops to target slow centers, launching nearly nine threes a game. Now, with more polished in-between skills, he’s taken just five threes in two games — leaning instead on mid-post moves and stretchy drives.
Certainly, it helps when you make half your midrange shots. Everybody has been jumping at his pump fakes. (PSA: Don’t jump! He’s 7’5!) But he’s also trusting his handle more and playing on his terms. He’s comfortable taking long strides and making soft bank floaters, or setting up a midrange jumper with shoulder fakes.
Look at this handle:
That’s a lefty hesitation dribble in the open court against Anthony Davis. Like a guard, he gets his defender on his hip and then explodes into space.
The Spurs’ go-to play has been using a guard to screen for Wemby inside the arc. If the screen hits, a small guy will have to briefly body up against Wemby until his regular matchup can scramble back.
In this moment of defensive weakness, Wemby pounces.
For example:
The floor is spaced so nobody is in that near corner — the Mavs have to defend this two-on-two. And Wemby, increasingly creative, knows Derek Lively II is caught out. Dylan Harper throws the pass high, right in stride.
The other way the Spurs have been thriving is with Wemby orchestrating at the elbow, surrounded by flittering guards screening for each other.
Devin Vassell, whose quick-trigger shooting is crucial for this team, unlocks Warriors-style post-split actions:
This is after Wemby fouled out in overtime, but the point stands. These three-man actions are a smart way of countering iffy spacing. Often, the shaky-shooting Stephon Castle is used as a screener to free up Vassell or Julian Champagnie. De’Aaron Fox will participate when he’s back from injury.
With Wemby excelling in tight confines, rather than relying on pick-and-pops, the Spurs can afford to play Luke Kornet as part of twin tower lineups. This makes their rim protection completely impenetrable, and also creates a ton more second chance points. It’s another way for Wemby to attack on offense:
This is a pick and roll superpower: Wemby can see over the screen defender and deposit a pass right in stride. He doesn’t have to fit in a bounce pass or pump fake around a rangy defender.
I haven’t even mentioned Wemby’s defense; he had nine blocks against the Pelicans. This guy’s different.