7-foot-4 French center Victor Wembanyama, selected first overall by the San Antonio Spurs, was the most sought-after draft pick since LeBron James in 2003. His tall stature, defensive prowess, and exceptional shooting ability make him a highly coveted player. The 2023 French basketball player of the year lived up to the expectations in his rookie season.
Before even playing for the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA regular season, the French center was involved in an incident with American pop star Britney Spears. The 42-year-old approached Wemby during the 2023 NBA summer league and was hit in the face by the NBA center’s security team.
The French center won the Rookie of the Year award in 2024 due to his impressive performance for the Spurs. However, he lacked support from his teammates as he led the Spurs in points, rebounds, steals, and blocks in the 2023-24 season. Can Victor Wembanyama prove that last season was not a fluke and help the Spurs improve?
Will Victor Wemabnyama Dominate The 2024-25 NBA Season?
In his rookie season, Wembanyama made headlines with his performances and finished as the 2024 NBA blocks leader. He made 254 blocks in 71 games, averaging 3.6 per game, at least one more block per game than any other NBA player last season. Wembanyama has been a shield for the Spurs with his impressive blocking and stealing abilities, which earned him a selection in the 2024 NBA All-Defensive First Team.
The Spurs center averaged 21.4 points per game on 46.5% shooting from the field and 32.5% from the three-point line. He also registered 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. Wembanyama has a long road ahead and will continue to improve as a player. Considering the stats in his debut NBA season, the French star could help the Spurs reclaim their status as a leading team in the league.
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Victor Wemabnyama Compared To Legendary NBA Centers
San Antonio Spurs center Wembanyama is among the three tallest active NBA players. The other two giants are Boban Marjanovic, who last played for the Houston Rockets, and Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey. Apart from his blocking and dominance under the ring, Wemby can shoot the ball from a distance. The three-point shooting ability separates him from the legendary NBA centers.
Tim Duncan
The five-time NBA champion Tim Duncan takes precedence when it comes to the greatest San Antonio Spurs player in history. Being a legendary center, Duncan won multiple MVP awards in his 19-year career with the Spurs. The 6’11” Hall of Famer helped San Antonio win their first-ever NBA title in his second season.
The three-time NBA Finals MVP scored 26,496 points in his career with an average of 10.8 rebounds and 2.2 blocks. Taking the Spurs to their glory and replicating Duncan’s success would be the biggest hope from Wembanyama in the future.
Shaquille O’Neal
Shaquille O’Neal is a four-time NBA champion who played for the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, and Phoenix Suns, among other NBA teams in his 19-year career. The 7-foot-1 center was known for his dominant game and offensive prowess. In his rookie season, the 2000 NBA MVP averaged 23.4 points on 56.2% FG, 13.9 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks per game.
Yao Ming
The former Houston Rockets center, Yao Ming, is one of the tallest players in NBA history. In his NBA career, the Chinese center averaged 19 points on shooting 52.4% from the field, 9.2 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game. In his 8 NBA seasons, Yao Ming couldn’t win a championship but was named an All-Star every season he played in the NBA.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Los Angeles Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the all-time scoring leader until LeBron James broke his 34-year-old record in 2023. The six-time NBA champion was 7’2” and averaged 28.8 points on 51.8% FG, 14.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. However, his blocks, steals, and three-point shooting percentage are unknown.
The San Antonio Spurs have signed Chris Paul, who last played for the Golden State Warriors, ahead of the 2024-25 season. While Victor Wembanyama has been a dominating force in the league, other Spurs players must support the French star to become the championship contenders.
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