PARIS (France) - Victor Wembanyama is on the road to greatness.
Despite a second NBA season shortened by recent shoulder surgery due to a thrombosis, this unfortunate setback hasn’t dampened the hype, the hopes, or the expectations surrounding the world’s most promising player.
Since impressing as a France youth national team player, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft by San Antonio has scooped the Rookie of the Year award and led France to an Olympic Final.
Before his injury, the 2024–25 NBA Defensive Player of the Year award seemed destined for him. But now, he’ll have to wait one more season—and stay healthy enough to play the minimum number of games required to be eligible for the season’s awards—to finally get his hands on the hardware.
The basketball gods gave us sultans of swat Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Hakeem Olajuwon, Dikembe Mutombo, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Rudy Gobert.
They’ve now given us Wembanyama. And what he’s shown over the last 12 months—both with the Spurs and Les Bleus—is nothing short of redefining what interior defense means.
How prolific has he become at swatting shots?
Just 19 players (as mentioned in the video above, you should check it) have averaged 3.5 blocks in the league since the statistic began being kept in the 1973-74 season. Wemby was the youngest to do it in 2023-24, when he averaged 3.6 blocks per game.
The 2.22M (7FT 3IN) center averaged a league-leading 3.8 blocks per game this season, which is more than USA internationals Walker Kessler (2.4), and Brook Lopez (1.9).
His rejections have major implications. He is not only denying opponents points, but creating fast-breaks for the Spurs. Over 57 percent of his blocks are recovered by his team.
If you watched San Antonio play, they were a different team when he was on the floor. He's a game-changer.
Shots attempted in the restricted area have been going in 67.8 percent of the time this season in the NBA.
When Wembanyama is the defender trying to prevent those attempts, shots in the restricted area go in only 46.9 percent of the time. That is astonishing.
His presence has already contributed to San Antonio’s improved win total. The Spurs finished with 22 wins in 2023–24—and by early February of the 2024–25 season, they had already matched that with 21. Next season, the Spurs are bound for the playoffs. And they’ll be a dangerous team when they get there.
The Frenchman is contesting shots at the rim more than eight times per game, which averages out to two per quarter.
The bottom line: there's a very good chance shots in the restricted area won't go in when Wembanyama is defending.
What's evident is that opponents, when Wembanyama is lurking in the paint, settle for more jumpers rather than attacking.
I know I'm not there yet. I'm still working on it. Defensively, it’s adapting to the opponents' adaptations. It’s always a back-and-forth, kind of like a chess game.
Opponents are attempting 45.6 shots per 100 possessions in the paint when Wemby plays, 52.0 when he doesn’t.
His ability to cut back on both their number of attempts on the interior, and their efficiency of interior scoring, is where the youngster has given the Spurs a real weapon.
There is the psychological aspect. Wembanyama has definitely gotten inside of opponents' heads.
He is intimidating with his 8-foot wingspan, the majority of his rejections occurring really close to the iron.
He's also blocking shots that have a higher arc. Opponents, wary of his talent, often try to shoot it higher to get it over Wemby yet he often gets to those. He is leading the NBA in blocks above 10 feet in the air.
Wemby is getting his fingertips to shots that no one else can.
Size, athleticism, anticipation, instincts and a standing reach of near 10 feet add up to the ultimate shot blocker.
He rejects shots with both hands.
"I know I'm not there yet," Wembanyama said in a feature on his shotblocking published in The Ringer. "I'm still working on it.
"Defensively, it’s adapting to the opponents’ adaptations. It’s always a back-and-forth, kind of like a chess game.”
His insane ability does not prevent Wemby from being posterized occasionally. He doesn't care.
Wemby will win most of those confrontations at the rim.
"I don't regret anything because learning comes through a lot of mistakes," he said.
Those that somehow dunk on Wembanyama are exceptions to the rule.
Wembanyama's presence on defense has major implications for France as well.
At the Olympics, he was was tied for second in blocks at 1.7 per game. Defense has always been the strength of France so Wembanyama will help Les Bleus carry on that tradition.
If he’s healthy in time to join the team, he could give them a true superweapon at this year’s FIBA EuroBasket— and at the FIBA Basketball World Cups and Olympics to come.
The French team is already big, strong and athletic and with Wemby, it's easy to see them regularly shutting down opponents that test them inside.
FIBA