Wemby

The Greatest Basketball Prospect Of All Time

A. J. Baker

VICTOR WEMBANYAMA. A NAME ALMOST ALL OF YOU ARE PROBABLY FAMILIAR WITH BY NOW. Whether you are a basketball fan or not, it is almost certain that you have heard about the sport’s newest superstar. He even managed to get a mention in Mr Ng’s chapel teaching. In response to scoring g forty points and twenty rebounds, a feat only achieved by Shaquille O’Neil as a rookie, I have been inspired to share why Wemby could be the greatest basketball prospect ever.

For those of you who are oblivious to his recent exposure… let me explain it. Essentially, Victor Wemanyama or Wemby is a 7-foot 4-inch French basketball player who is currently playing his rookie season in the NBA. The reason he is receiving so much publicity is due to his idiosyncratic talent and genetic gifts. Considering he is so incredibly tall, it would be expected for him to be lacking in other areas like coordination or shooting. This, however, could not be further from the truth – hence, the excitement about this prospect. Currently, Wemby is averaging twenty-one points, eleven rebounds, 3 assists and a whopping 3.5 blocks per game. In context, this is a better statline than LeBron James, who is regarded as the best Rookie this century and arguably the greatest player of all time.

Currently, Wembanyama is predicted to be awarded the Defensive Player of the Year and almost certainly the Rookie of the Year. Winning both awards is extremely rare; however, he deserved it as he displays tenacious defence, having an impact statistically and on opponent shot selection. His height and presence alone discourage offence from taking interior, high-percentage field goals, instead forcing players to take difficult perimeter shots.

Victor Wembanayama on Draft Night

In comparison to other players, statistically, Wemby does not deserve the ‘glazing’ from fan accounts made by 11-year-olds. Although he is a great player statistically, we all know there is more to sport than stats. However, the following four reasons are sure to convince you as to why Wemby could actually be the greatest prospect of all time, earning him the nickname of ‘the Alien.’

Firstly, he has an unmatched game awareness unlike any other player. Considering he has transitioned from a French basketball league with slightly modified rules, just from watching a subpar Spurs game, you would assume Wemby had been playing in the NBA for longer than five months. This obviously cannot be tracked statistically but is obvious when viewing his highlight reel.

Secondly, he is on a losing team. The San Antonio Spurs (at the time of authoring this article) have won 18 of their 74 games so far this season, giving them the third worst record in the entire league. I am positive that if Victor were on a winning team with players who are looking to pass him the ball, his statline would only improve. Over the next few years, the Spurs will look to build a team around the superstar, aiding in his growth.

Thirdly, Victor Wembanyama, unlike most NBA players, has a great attitude towards the game and is constantly looking to improve. He is not focused on the money he is earning but hungry for a championship. Often, players look to blame game officials or teammates when they are losing. However, in the Spurs’ highly unsuccessful season, I have never seen Wemby argue or lose his temper. This is a vital asset for sporting success and will most definitely facilitate his development.

Finally, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich placed a minutes restriction on Wemby after an injury scare in a game against the Houston Rockets. For the vast majority of the season, he has only played 28 minutes per game. If he were to play an extra ten or even fifteen minutes, it is almost scary to imagine what he could achieve. He has an incredible points per minute ratio, placing him at 13th overall in the league. We saw this when he played 38 minutes in an overtime battle against the Knicks and scored forty points.

Over the next few seasons, when Wemby receives some better teammates, the Spurs return to their 2014 prime and Coach Popovich eliminates his minute restrictions, it will be exciting to see his game development. With this in mind, I am certain that in the years to come, Wemby will only get better and possibly even become the best. This is why Victor Wembenyama is the best NBA prospect of all time. Next time you procrastinate doing your maths homework, let me encourage you to open YouTube and watch some Wemby highlights. I can assure you that it will never cease to amaze you.

Victor Wembanyama blocking Miami guard Jamal Cain.