Wembanyama. I'm concerned

[Miami_Lux]

This is not supposed to be a reactionary thread. I understand that we are not even one quarter into the season but nonetheless there are quite a few concerning observations about Wemby's actual ceiling.
Let's look at his numbers over the last six games following his 38-point game against the Suns. 38/100 (38%) from the field, 9/35 (26%) from three. I understand that San Antonio has a bad team, a PG that is not a PG (i.e. Sochan), and overall his teammates don't give him the ball in good spots as much as they should.
However, I was told Wemby was a great shooter for his length but he demonstrately is not. While his three-point shot may look good, his percentages are just abysmal. I don t think he will ever become a great shooter if he can t shoot even 30% from the three-point line.
Second, from watching the game, I think his handles are very suspect. He gets stripped a lot and his movement with the ball is very clunky at times making it easy for good defenders to strip the ball away from.
I don t think Wemby will be a bust. He can become an elite defender but offensively right now he just looks like a taller Porzingis.
Please don t hate me.

[DaGawd]

reminder, kevin durant was very inefficient as a rook. just saying

[Yoshun]

No hate, just love.

But this is a reactionary thread. All players have cold streaks during the season, rookies tend to have more. He'll be fine.

[SNPA]

A real PG and time and he’ll easily be a mid-20’s scorer combined with DPOY candidate every year.

It’s other teams that should be concerned.

[CraftylikeaFox]

His development as a player always mirrored Giannis more than it mirrored Lebron. If you expected him to come into his first year as an immediate MVP candidate then you weren't really paying attention.

[Jadoogar]

this is quite obviously a reactionary thread.
He's playing with Jeremy Sochan as his point guard, he's adjusting to a new league, and the team is quite clearly tanking. Even with all that, he's had some monster performances. Rookies generally don't have a positive impact in the league, let alone in their first 10 games.

[Special_Puppy]

This is not supposed to be a reactionary thread. I understand that we are not even one quarter into the season but nonetheless there are quite a few concerning observations about Wemby's actual ceiling.
Let's look at his numbers over the last six games following his 38-point game against the Suns. 38/100 (38%) from the field, 9/35 (26%) from three. I understand that San Antonio has a bad team, a PG that is not a PG (i.e. Sochan), and overall his teammates don't give him the ball in good spots as much as they should.
However, I was told Wemby was a great shooter for his length but he demonstrately is not. While his three-point shot may look good, his percentages are just abysmal. I don t think he will ever become a great shooter if he can t shoot even 30% from the three-point line.
Second, from watching the game, I think his handles are very suspect. He gets stripped a lot and his movement with the ball is very clunky at times making it easy for good defenders to strip the ball away from.
I don t think Wemby will be a bust. He can become an elite defender but offensively right now he just looks like a taller Porzingis.
Please don t hate me.

I think its way too early to panic. We are just 11 games in and he's still the best rookie besides Chet.

[Roger Murdock]

I think some level setting was in order. You have WOJ saying he’s expected to be the best offensive player in the NBA by his third season. That was an OUTRAGEOUS statement.

Anchoring expected offensive production to guys like Curry, Durant, Jokic, LeBron, Embiid, Harden, Doncic is foolish - he’s not even close to their skill sets.

I think if he develops a lot he has a chance to be a really good offensive player, but he came into the league

1. A bad shooter
2. Extremely weak
3. Good enough passer / BBIQ / etc but nothing game breaking
4. Good touch but not elite
5. OK handle but not elite
6. Most importantly - a play style resembling Durant / Dirk but not the skillset or coordination to execute it

I expect him to be a dynamite offensive player eventually, but he’s going to have to score most of his points at or near the hoop. I think at his peak he will be closer to a top 10-20 offensive player than a top 3.

[Tottery]

It's his rookie season. How he develops the next 2 seasons is more important.

[KokoKaizer]

Try to spell his name right first

And watch the games, no pg, a tanking team, etc

What did you expect ?

[UcanUwill]

He was laid for everyone to see for years, this is not new, we have seen this for years, his shot selection and his wish to be next KD was always THE concern, he jacks so many jumpers and he is not even a good shooter, he is ok at that. Where his ceiling comes in, is that when his body matures, he manages and wills it to play inside where he will be unstoppable. Also, likely DPOY candidate for years to come. Thats what we hope.

[levon]

this is quite obviously a reactionary thread.
He's playing with Jeremy Sochan as his point guard, he's adjusting to a new league, and the team is quite clearly tanking. Even with all that, he's had some monster performances. Rookies generally don't have a positive impact in the league, let alone in their first 10 games.

I mean, begs the question why he's playing with Jeremy Sochan as the point guard. I mean this tongue-in-cheek but if I was Pop and I wanted to discourage Wemby from free-wheeling on offense, I'd break his spirit by having Sochan be the point guard.

[Revived]

I feel like these threads are made on purpose to reverse jinx players. What’s the % of players in the NBA who have immediately turned it around with having very strong games after a real GM thread about them playing poorly was posted here? Like 80%?

I remember the Steph one from the year they won their last title. Then LeBron when he took Lakers to the WCFs. Giannis and most recently Lillard.

I guess this is good news for Wemby, he’s gonna be playing spectacular pretty soon here.

[Sethaholic16]

Even before he was drafted, his shooting was not efficient. His splits were 46/27/81 against inferior competition in France.

[KembaWalker]

I'm concerned that anyone thought Wemby would be efficient in year 1

[kodo]

Too many serious posts. Everyone is supposed to post ridiculous takes so we can bump this in 4 years.

[whitehops]

i think a lot of people were expecting a lot of his immediate offense. iirc he shot like 29% from 3 in europe and a lot of the plays he made were impressive *for his size* but the reality is that there are wings that can make those same plays.

he has a ton of natural talent so down the road it'll probably be devastating but i'm not surprised at all by his relatively slow start.

[phanman]

He still adjusting to the NBA game and from the games I've seen hasn't found a way to consistently use his physical traits to consistently dominate the game. He's operating like a 7'4 SG out there as opposed to the unicorn he was hyped up to be coming into the league. Compared to some of the most hyped prospects, hiss numbers are comparable outside of Luka who still efficient coming into the league.

An 11 game sample is super small but just for your reference:

Durant: 19.7pts, 4.4reb, 1.7ast, 1.5stl, 1blk, 3.5tov on 47.8%TS (38/28/84) in 34.1.mpg with 18.5FGA (5.5 3PA & 5 FTA)

Wemby: 18.6pts, 9.3reb, 2.5ast, 1stl, 2.4blk, 3.9tov on 52.1%TS (43/28/77) in 30mpg with 16 FGA (5.5 3PA & 4.3 FTA)

LeBron 16.5pts, 6.5reb, 6.5ast, 1.3stl, 0.8blk, 3.6tov on 48%TS (43/33/60) in 40.9mpg with 15.5 FGA (2.5 3PA & 3.8 FTA)

Luka: 20.2pts, 6.5reb, 4.2ast, 0.8stl, 0.3blk, 4.2tov on 60%TS (48/40/76) in 34.7mpg with 15 FGA (6.5 3PA & 4.2 FTA)

What stands out his he's playing less minutes to start than the other 3 listed and these numbers don't even showcase his defensive impact when out there. I think he's doing fine, if he had made 1 more 3pter his percentage would have been right at 30%

[Joao Saraiva]

His shooting form looks good. If he can sustain a 3PT of 35% it's OK as a C. He'll definitely be able to shoot occasionally from 3 and from midrange AT LEAST.

His handles don't look superb - they'll never be cause his drible will be very high. But he can use his handles to get to the basket - on fast breaks, 1 on 1 mismatches... AT LEAST he's gonna do that.

His passing looks fine and he will always be able to see a lot of the court.


He already showed DPOY potential.

As a roll player... you have a good PG he'll be a hell of a finisher. And he'll be a good FT shooter for sure for a C.

So at least he is a great roll man on offense, who can use a ton of skills for spacing, can go on fast break even if he needs to use handles... and a DPOY candidate.

That's an automatic great 2nd option on offense while being most likely the best player of the team when considering defense.

I mean... that's the least we can expect from him. So think about the ceilling.

Of course when people were saying next MJ/Bron (career wise) or bust people were being very stupid, since nobody's floor is GOAT material.

Give him time. Unless he has some injuries problems he'll have a long solid career and will be an high impact player.

[Trey24]

He has shown some insane flashes for a rookie. He is going to be very good for a long time.

I am surprised he doesn't rebound more consistently though