Victor Wembanyama has more than justified the hype 63 games into his NBA career. The San Antonio Spurs cornerstone has been great on both ends of the floor, positioning himself as the frontrunner for the 2023-24 Rookie of the Year award.
But according to Nicolas Batum, what Wemby has portrayed so far is just a glimpse of what he will be able to do in the years to come.
“I think the Rookie of the Year race is pretty much set,” Batum said. “That’s what people say, and I think it is. I saw Pop [Spurs coach Gregg Popovich] say something one time, and I agree with him. He said, ‘Maybe this will be the worst season of Wemby.’ Can you imagine? This might be the worst season of his career. That’s scary.”
Wemby’s rookie campaign
The French wunderkind has been tremendous so far, averaging 20.7 points, 10.4 boards, and 3.5 steals while shooting 46.6 percent from the field. More than his offense, Victor’s defensive performance has arguably been even more impressive, with the 20-year-old averaging 1.5 steals and a league-leading 3.4 blocks per contest.
Wemby keeps rewriting the league record books after achieving a handful of historic feats this season. From becoming the youngest player to post a rare ‘5×5′ stat line to being the first player in NBA history to have 75 threes, 150 assists, and 150 blocks in the same campaign, the Spurs rookie has been nothing short of amazing.
That’s why, despite the team having another losing season, sitting 15th in the Western Conference with a 16-56 record, the Spurs’ future looks as exciting as ever, with one of the best prospects in NBA history leading the way.
DPOY case
For all his greatness on the offensive side of the floor, Wemby has already showcased a DPOY level of defense, inserting himself in conversations for the award. That said, the Spurs’ lack of team success will probably cost him the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year.
However, Wemby has no issue if he comes up short in the DPOY race, as he believes the award will consistently be on his shelf starting next year.
“I know that Rudy (Gobert) has a very good chance of winning it this year, and it would be deserved. Let him win it now, because after that, it’s no longer his turn,” he said.
Wembaynama proved he’s a generational talent. Barring any injuries, the 20-year-old also proved he has the tools to be the best player in the league for years to come. The rest of the NBA should indeed be scary.
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