First Report Card Grades for Victor Wembanyama's NBA Rookie Season
D.Adams3 months ago
AP Photo/Jeff Chiu While Wembanyama is an elite rim protector, his perimeter defense is already quite good as well. Using his length to challenge everything seemingly in a 10-foot radius, opponents simply look uncomfortable trying to get a three-point shot off when Wembanyama is the primary defender, often making a noticeable adjustment to their arc. What makes Wembanyama different from other bigs who can defend on the outside of the paint is his reach and recovery. Opponents who dive deep into their bags to create some separation on the perimeter from Wembanyama have to hurry to get a shot off, as he's incredibly quick to recover and challenge a shot. If a player drives by the Spurs rookie, they know he'll be right behind them, waiting with an outstretched paw while trying to eliminate a layup attempt from behind. Opponents are shooting 37.1 percent from three against Wembanyama this season, an almost identical number to their regular success rate of 36.9 percent. What doesn't show up on the stat sheets are the number of times Wembanyama gets switched on to a smaller offensive player on the outside, with his mere presence forcing them to make a pass without even thinking about attempting a shot. His 7.6 contested shots per game only rank 41st overall in the NBA, more a testament to the respect offenses are already giving Wembanyama instead of a lack of effort on his part. While his footwork is quite good for someone his size, Wembanyama is still going to fall victim to some of the shiftier guards in the league from time to time.
