Age

19.5

Height

7'5''

Weight

209

Workload

MIN%

73

USG%

34

TS%

65

Per 70 Possession Stats

PTS

26.9

REB

8.3

AST

1.8

STL

1.5

BLK

3.2

TOV

2.1

Efficiency

RIM FG%

67

MID FG%

27

3PT FG%

38

FT%

77

Jump to full report

Report by: Matt

Victor Wembanyama

Big Metropolitans 92

The best prospect since LeBron. Potentially dominant on both sides of the floor

Age

19.5

Height

7'5''

Weight

209

Per 70 Possession Stats

PTS

26.9

REB

8.3

AST

1.8

STL

1.5

BLK

3.2

Positions Defended

Offensive Role

 

Defensive Role

   

Meet Victor Wembanyama

The best way to describe Victor Wembanyama (“Vic”, “Wemby”), who has earned some of the loftiest praise we’ve ever seen as a prospect, is to say he’s potentially one of the best floor *and* ceiling raising prospects, on both offense *and* defense of all time. Let’s put context around this.

As a 7’5” person who can move on a joypad like an NBA wing but with an 8’0” wingspan, Vic can cover more territory in a shorter amount of time than possibly anyone in NBA history. He is the lynchpin of not just the best defense in the top French pro league as an 18-year-old, but the best by 13 points in defensive rating through four games (Vic’s ASVEL had the best defense in the league last season, now below average). To get the negatives out of the way, Wemby appears to have poor peripheral awareness and can also be slow to leap with force. Fortunately for him, he is able to close-out at the three point line before turning to block a shot at the rim as effective as anyone I’ve scouted, making up for the lack of hyper-awareness.

Wembanyama’s developmental trajectory has been very positive for his defensive progression. At Nanterre from age 15 to 16, Vic was tasked with aggressive showing and constantly being matched up with guards a foot shorter. Compared to a drop defender’s (typically, not always) more limited responsibilities, Victor is used to having to defend a wide variety of coverages. In his time at ASVEL, after growing into his body better and adding some strength, provided him with a chance to develop more traditional big skills, particularly how to position himself for rebounds and keep his hands up and active (this can occasionally still be an issue). Now, at Metropolitans 92, Vic often guards on the wing while also being an active help defender.

This access to any kind of scheme, where his movement skills and length will always be an extreme asset, making for endless teambuilding opportunities around Wemby. And now we get to his offense.

Even at age 15 debuting in the French pro league, Wembanyama experimented with complex shot-making and risky passes. One major appeal of Vic’s is that he’s essentially the best safety valve of all time. If your offense struggles to get a high efficiency shot, Victor makes a huge target and, with his excellent shot prep footwork, balance, solid mechanics and good touch, will always be able to get off a decent shot.

As we’ve seen him explode for 30+ points in games with multiple threes made, often off of movement or the dribble, the potential for him as a shotmaker is sky-high. While he still struggles with passing decision-making on occasion, he is very creative and often able to make high-leverage reads. Finally, he also has a good chance to be one of the best roll finishers in the league, with soft hands to collect lobs and increasing aggressiveness at the rim.

Here, we see how the possibilities multiply exponentially. Wembanyama is able to play as a drop big and lob threat with connective passing to clip regular season wins before becoming a switch-all defensive playmaker who can also space the floor on offense to make his team impossible to scheme against. Any coach must be eager to figure out unique ways to apply his skills to their own team as it’s impossible to find a bad fit. And if he continues to polish his technique, as his current team Metropolitans has been encouraging, a multi-MVP career feels in play.

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