Victor Wembanyama silences NBA critics: “No reason why I can’t continue to progress”

A more menacing giant away from the ring

While some criticism fell on him after a start to the season considered weak, ‘Wemby’ silenced his detractors at the start of November. Over his last three outings, the 2.23 m player averages 36 points, 12 rebounds and 4.3 blocks. But what stands out most is the effectiveness it now demonstrates. Struggling with his 3-point shot at the start of the campaign (22% average over his first 9 games), the Spurs number 1 converted 20 of his last 37 attempts from behind the arc, or 54% success.

This is one of the great paradoxes in his game. Despite his giant size, which would encourage you to see him putting baskets in the racket, Victor Wembanyama often prefers to move away from the circle to bombard the opposing defenses. Almost half of his field goals this season have been taken from behind the 3-point line. And he attempts on average three more shots per game compared to last season. He was not panicked at the start of the season when success eluded him. “It takes me a little time to get my shooting rhythm back, but I remain confident.”he declared. Before adding more recently: “What has clearly changed is not the fact that I’m taking fewer 3-point shots, but that I’m taking better shots.”

And it’s not the Spurs coaching staff that will prevent him from continuing to water from afar. Especially since its impact, enhanced by a leader like Chris Paul, allows San Antonio to reap more victories this season (6v.-6d.). “I can tell you that Victor is a phenomenal shooter. We want to see him continue to take these kinds of shots in matches.”explains interim coach Mitch Johnson, who took over from Gregg Popovich, convalescing after a slight stroke.

All-Star caliber

If there is no shortage of areas for improvement, particularly in his interior play with his back to the ring where we still often see him struggling in the physical duel against opposing defenders, ‘Wemby’ remains an incredible phenomenon of precocity. His stats at the start of the second NBA season are up in almost all areas of play compared to the same period last season (see infographic). And he obviously doesn’t intend to stop there.

“It’s an important step, it’s like joining a private club, he congratulated himself after his last XXL performance. This makes me proud. The first thing I think is that I want my next performance to surpass this one. I want to make sure that in the future it’s just another match. There’s no reason why I can’t continue to improve.”

Rest assured, if he stays within his current standards, the Frenchman should have no trouble being selected for his first All-Star next February. If we compare him to the other star pivots of the Western Conference, Wembanyama is already part of the top 3. Only Anthony Davis (Lakers) and Nikola Jokic (Denver), who average nearly 30 points and more than 10 rebounds, seem still position itself in a higher category.