Victor Wembanyama made his regular-season NBA debut on Wednesday versus the Dallas Mavericks, and although his San Antonio Spurs lost, 126-119, he flashed some potential of what he could become in the years to come.
He scored 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting, which included a 3-of-5 mark from 3-point range, while adding five rebounds, two assists, two steals, and one blocked shot in 23 minutes.
While it looked like he was deferring to his teammates and not looking to assert himself that much, he did score the bulk of his points in the fourth quarter when San Antonio looked to take control of the game.
While Wembanyama’s potential is becoming clear, some still have concerns about him, especially his durability, as ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith said during “First Take.”
.@stephenasmith on Wemby’s debut:
“The brother is very, very skilled. … All I’m concerned about with him is his physique, and the punishment he is going to endure.” pic.twitter.com/x79uwgv542
— First Take (@FirstTake) October 26, 2023
The French phenom is 7-foot-4, but he is rail thin, which means he doesn’t have the natural “padding” that other athletes have in order to absorb shock and avoid injuries such as fractures or torn ligaments.
On one play on Wednesday, he attempted to post up, but he couldn’t maintain his balance and was unable to score, something that happened multiple times during summer league play.
While Wembanyama has the ability to become a monstrous shot blocker, he also picked up five fouls in his debut, so it is possible that for a while, he will not get the benefit of the doubt from referees like many young big men.
It will take a few years for him to become whatever he can become, but clearly, he can still become a truly special player and perhaps an MVP-type player.
NEXT:
Numbers Show Jrue Holiday’s Defensive Dominance Against The Knicks