Will Wemby break the BPG record?

[The-Power]

There wasn't rim deterrent when Eaton averaged 5+ blocks a game?

Personnel and tactics are just very different. It's much easier these days to avoid rim protectors. I'm also not sure anyone outside of maybe Russell and Wilt has struck as much as fear into opponents as Victor does. He's just an outlier among outliers in terms of height, length and mobility.

[prime1time]

Going to be tough because players are way too conscious of their fg% these days. Raptor players literally panicked and turned over the all instead putting up a shot that Wemby could block. Wemby was +35 tonight...

There's not because of being too conscious of FG%, that's what we call a player being a rim deterrent

Love prime1time's implication of a romantic bygone era where players simply attacked the rim carefree, completely oblivious to shotblockers and not afraid of the ego death you suffer when getting blocked

Not a phone in sight, just NBA players getting blocked and enjoying it!

Not sure why the sarcasm. In 2025 there is social media. Highlights get shared at lightning speed and there is a major emphasis on advanced stats. None of this was happening in when Eaton set the record. In 1984-85, were games even live? If you didn't watch the game live could you watch it easily after? How many views across every platform do you think Wemby's block on Lively and his subsequent stepback 3 get?

When fans see Lively, what play do you think they'll bring up? It is what it is. The NBA is a highlight driven league and social media is its rocket fuel. Twitter/X, Instagram, TikTok this is how people develop perceptions. Most people aren't going to watch an entire NBA game. 40 years ago in Eaton blocks your shot you just keep on moving. In the present day, if Wemby blocks your shot it might be the single most defining play of your entire season.

RealGM is probably filled with boomers lol. What egodeath can there be without social media in 1984/1985? There wasn't even internet. Games were on tape delay.

[Ssj16]

All these people saying that people will stop testing him makes me laugh. So what's going to be the strategy when playing Wemby, mid-range jumpers? Get real. The game is literally built around layups/dunks and 3's.

It's kinda of ironic stating that the game is built around layups/dunks and 3's where as before the game was built upon 2s and the post play but circumstances made teams adapt and change.

It's quite possible teams will at least adapt to Wemby and change their style of play as well.

[prime1time]

There wasn't rim deterrent when Eaton averaged 5+ blocks a game?

Personnel and tactics are just very different. It's much easier these days to avoid rim protectors. I'm also not sure anyone outside of maybe Russell and Wilt has struck as much as fear into opponents as Victor does. He's just an outlier among outliers in terms of height, length and mobility.

So the internet and social media doesn't impact how the game was perceived? Granted it's Google AI but it claims that unofficially Wilt was averaging 8.8 blocks per game in the 60s. If you don't think how the game is consumed doesn't shape what happens on the court you're not living in reality. Why do so many young kids just bomb threes? Because that's what social media pumps out as highlights. Steph Curry 3's. 3's, being dunked on and Wemby highlights. And in fact Wemby highlights are the biggest thing right now. Back in the day being blocked was just another play. In 2025 being blocked by Wemby is the #1 highlight that the NBA produces. It's on every NBA podcast. It leads sportscenter. It's all over social media. 10 of millions of views.

Do I want to be blocked by Wemby and have this be a season defining moment, or will I just not shoot the ball? Tough choice lol.

[Exp0sed]

I doubt it. Eaton's record is like 5.5. It's a different game now, lots more 3's

He avg'ed 3.8 last season and he's now taller, stronger and better si i expect something like 4.5, 6 bpg is just not feasible and 5.5...who knows, maybe in his prime but pretty unlikely.

Wemby got taller?

Yes, he's still growing..

He was measured and listed as 7'3 as a rookie. It was very visibile last season that he's even taller, finally Spurs relented and listed him at 7'5 but we've been around bball enough to see that he's well over 7'5. Check out how a 7'2 D. Lively looked next to Wemby in the season opener, for example

He's legit at least 7'6 now, that's Gerorge Muresan territory...

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[Exp0sed]

I doubt it. Eaton's record is like 5.5. It's a different game now, lots more 3's

He avg'ed 3.8 last season and he's now taller, stronger and better si i expect something like 4.5, 6 bpg is just not feasible and 5.5...who knows, maybe in his prime but pretty unlikely.

This. Bigs used to be able to just camp in the paint and gamble on blocks. 5s are guarding out on the perimeter a lot more now, and advanced analytics has devalued blocks.

I think Eaton's record is pretty safe because of those reasons.

What's more plausible to me is Wemby leading the league in points, rebounds and blocks in the same season at some point.

I doubt he will ever play more than 32-33 mpg at any point in his career, might make it a bit tougher to be the actual scoring champ and the same goes for Rebounds. He can be both a top 5 scorer and rebounder, being number one in all of those is possible but i think it's unlikely



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[The-Power]

So the internet and social media doesn't impact how the game was perceived?

Sure it does. But it doesn't explain everything.

Why do so many young kids just bomb threes? Because that's what social media pumps out as highlights. ... Do I want to be blocked by Wemby and have this be a season defining moment, or will I just not shoot the ball? Tough choice lol.

You conflate two different things here. One is kids trying to be like their idols, and one is grown-up NBA players not wanting to get blocked. There's certainly credence to both but it's ultimately two very different things still.

Either way, my point was that players are more capable and willing to shoot from further out and that coaches are much more willing to make those shots a key part of their strategy. Both are developments that far preceded Victor's appearance in the NBA, and the main reason for the increase in 3pt shooting is the realization that utilizing and leveraging that shot leads to more efficient offenses.

And this change in skills and strategy makes it much less likely for shot blockers to challenge previously held records. Players being more aware of the negative publicity from being on the receiving end of a highlight player might explain some individual choices (though players never liked getting blocked, Social Media or not) but it's the macro-changes that ultimately offer the most explanatory power for the shift in shot blocking numbers.

[hauntedcomputer]

Wilt and Russell easily had double-digit block seasons.

[prime1time]

So the internet and social media doesn't impact how the game was perceived?

Sure it does. But it doesn't explain everything.

Why do so many young kids just bomb threes? Because that's what social media pumps out as highlights. ... Do I want to be blocked by Wemby and have this be a season defining moment, or will I just not shoot the ball? Tough choice lol.

You conflate two different things here. One is kids trying to be like their idols, and one is grown-up NBA players not wanting to get blocked. There's certainly credence to both but it's ultimately two very different things still.

Either way, my point was that players are more capable and willing to shoot from further out and that coaches are much more willing to make those shots a key part of their strategy. Both are developments that far preceded Victor's appearance in the NBA, and the main reason for the increase in 3pt shooting is the realization that utilizing and leveraging that shot leads to more efficient offenses.

And this change in skills and strategy makes it much less likely for shot blockers to challenge previously held records. Players being more aware of the negative publicity from being on the receiving end of a highlight player might explain some individual choices (though players never liked getting blocked, Social Media or not) but it's the macro-changes that ultimately offer the most explanatory power for the shift in shot blocking numbers.

This is conjecture just like my point. I don't think you can really make this claim given that Wemby is just beginning his ascent to being the face of the league. There is a larger trend but anything I am discussing is specific to Wemby and how the game is marketed.

[Bornstellar]

Probably not. Players are already afraid to shoot when he is anywhere near the paint. Considering modern shot diet compared to when the record was set, seems unlikely he will be able to break the record. But if anyone can, it would be him

[Ballings7]

Not gonna be a good thing for teams if they can't score at the rim enough. A team can't get too far mostly just being a jumpshooting team (that includes three point jumpshots), or looking for fouls over-opportunistically.

If you de-priortize half-court and paint scoring in terms of execution ability and decisions, then you don't really win in the playoffs, and don't have a good chance to get to the Finals, let alone win a title.

Teams are going to have to get more creative in half court, and semi-transition situations. Also teams will need to become better defensively to create more opportunities for when Wemby probably won't be at the rim.

All these people saying that people will stop testing him makes me laugh. So what's going to be the strategy when playing Wemby, mid-range jumpers? Get real. The game is literally built around layups/dunks and 3's.

It's kinda of ironic stating that the game is built around layups/dunks and 3's where as before the game was built upon 2s and the post play but circumstances made teams adapt and change.

It's quite possible teams will at least adapt to Wemby and change their style of play as well.

The regular season, 3 point shots and at-rim points (including subsequential Free-throw opportunities), are most consistent actions for the majority of teams to score and win regular season games.

3s and layups get tougher and taken away more in the playoffs by team defenses, at one point or another; maybe not immediately in the playoffs, but eventually in the playoffs, they will not be as available overall. The game always slows down to some degree. Less fouls are called.

If there is no consistent, solid mid-range game that a team can execute from, then a team probably isn't a true contender.

Example: Indiana and OKC are not Finalists without their ability to score in the half-court and mid-range. It may not of been their bread and butter as a team, but they could do that effectively enough over a playoff series, or better than that to win in a playoff series.

Every title winner historically, has been able to score and create offense in the half-court accompanied by a reliable mid-range game. Similar goes for the majority of Finals loser, and conference finalists teams - though there is naturally some more variance there, and that losing team gets exposed for their weakness offensively.

Same thing for the Warriors dynasty; the 2019 Raptors; the 2021 Bucks; the 2023 Nuggets; the 2020 Lakers; the 2024 Celtics.

No consistent offensive mid-range and half-court game for a team to go to = No championship.

[og15]

Going to be tough because players are way too conscious of their fg% these days. Raptor players literally panicked and turned over the all instead putting up a shot that Wemby could block. Wemby was +35 tonight...

There's not because of being too conscious of FG%, that's what we call a player being a rim deterrent

There wasn't rim deterrent when Eaton averaged 5+ blocks a game?

Of course, but guys get blocked thinking they can beat the big to the rim or avoid them, or get around them. The shot blocking big is a deterrent when guys see them in the path and instead of going at the basket will do things like dribble under or pass.

Eaton didn't just get blocks from guys running straight into him, he got blocks from behind, on jumpshots, from the weakside, etc

It doesn't mean no one ever tries to attempt a shot against them. In the heat of the game, no one is thinking, "better not attempt a shot at the rim because of my FG%", I promise you that's not in any players mind. If guys are worried about percentages, it's in things like taking jumpshots, not whether to attempt a shot near the basket.

What guys also start doing is things like rushing a shot, or doing like a double pump because they see how tall the guy is. Defender doesn't get a block, but he's forcing a miss or a lower percentage close shot.

[Castle Black]

No chance that record ever gets broken in modern basketball. All those guys played in an era where the game was played inside–out and very few players shot 3's. Centers had far more opportunities to block shots in the paint because that's where the overwhelming majority of shots were taken. There was also no 3-Second Violation back then so guys could just camp out in the paint.

In today's NBA, too many players spam 3's, especially when Wemby's in the game. You saw it last night. Wemby dominated the game defensively and yet he only finished with 1 Block. That's because the Raptors weren't even giving him the opportunity. Anytime a ball-handler got near him, they just turned around and dribbled back out to the 3-point line or passed it to someone hovering around the arc.

[tsherkin]

Not sure why the sarcasm. In 2025 there is social media. Highlights get shared at lightning speed and there is a major emphasis on advanced stats. None of this was happening in when Eaton set the record.

No, you just ended up a poster on thousands of walls around the country, and a highlight on repeat on television.

That's literally where the phrase "posterized" comes from...

[badpotato]

No chance that record ever gets broken in modern basketball. All those guys played in an era where the game was played inside–out and very few players shot 3's. Centers had far more opportunities to block shots in the paint because that's where the overwhelming majority of shots were taken.

In today's NBA, too many players spam 3's, especially when Wemby's in the game. You saw it last night. Wemby dominated the game defensively and yet he only finished with 1 Block. That's because the Raptors weren't even giving him the opportunity. Anytime a ball-handler got near him, they just turned around and dribbled back out to the 3-point line or passed it to someone hovering around the arc.

Yup - Eaton was essentialy allowed to set a tent under the hoop and wait for incoming drives - in an era where shooting 3s was a novelty.
No defensive 3s either - Wemby would be averaging 7 at minimum under this ruleset.

[benson13]

He might, but the Tweet is dumb. It seems to imply basing something on a small sample size make it more impressive.

What's impressive about Wemby is the way he's changing team's offenses. It's very similar to the effect Hakeem Olajuwon and David Robinson had. Sure, Victor is going to block shots in the paint, but anyone with the ball who's thinking about shooting wants to know where Wemby is before taking a shot.

No chance that record ever gets broken in modern basketball. All those guys played in an era where the game was played inside–out and very few players shot 3's. Centers had far more opportunities to block shots in the paint because that's where the overwhelming majority of shots were taken.

In today's NBA, too many players spam 3's, especially when Wemby's in the game. You saw it last night. Wemby dominated the game defensively and yet he only finished with 1 Block. That's because the Raptors weren't even giving him the opportunity. Anytime a ball-handler got near him, they just turned around and dribbled back out to the 3-point line or passed it to someone hovering around the arc.

Yup - Eaton was essentialy allowed to set a tent under the hoop and wait for incoming drives - in an era where shooting 3s was a novelty.
No defensive 3s either - Wemby would be averaging 7 at minimum under this ruleset.

Shots in the paint in 1985 weren't double what they are now.

[tsherkin]

No chance that record ever gets broken in modern basketball. All those guys played in an era where the game was played inside–out and very few players shot 3's. Centers had far more opportunities to block shots in the paint because that's where the overwhelming majority of shots were taken.

In today's NBA, too many players spam 3's, especially when Wemby's in the game. You saw it last night. Wemby dominated the game defensively and yet he only finished with 1 Block. That's because the Raptors weren't even giving him the opportunity. Anytime a ball-handler got near him, they just turned around and dribbled back out to the 3-point line or passed it to someone hovering around the arc.

Yup - Eaton was essentialy allowed to set a tent under the hoop and wait for incoming drives - in an era where shooting 3s was a novelty.
No defensive 3s either - Wemby would be averaging 7 at minimum under this ruleset.

Yeah, it's unlikely, especially with minutes limitations on top of that.

BUT, if anyone was going to do it, then it would be Wemby. He has averaged 4.3 and 4.1 BLK36 these past two seasons, and he's averaging 5.3 BLK36 so far very, very, very early this season, or a BLK% of 13.8, and has averaged 10.0 and 10.4% over the previous two seasons. He's a monster.

[badpotato]

No chance that record ever gets broken in modern basketball. All those guys played in an era where the game was played inside–out and very few players shot 3's. Centers had far more opportunities to block shots in the paint because that's where the overwhelming majority of shots were taken.

In today's NBA, too many players spam 3's, especially when Wemby's in the game. You saw it last night. Wemby dominated the game defensively and yet he only finished with 1 Block. That's because the Raptors weren't even giving him the opportunity. Anytime a ball-handler got near him, they just turned around and dribbled back out to the 3-point line or passed it to someone hovering around the arc.

Yup - Eaton was essentialy allowed to set a tent under the hoop and wait for incoming drives - in an era where shooting 3s was a novelty.
No defensive 3s either - Wemby would be averaging 7 at minimum under this ruleset.

Yeah, it's unlikely, especially with minutes limitations on top of that.

BUT, if anyone was going to do it, then it would be Wemby. He has averaged 4.3 and 4.1 BLK36 these past two seasons, and he's averaging 5.3 BLK36 so far very, very, very early this season, or a BLK% of 13.8, and has averaged 10.0 and 10.4% over the previous two seasons. He's a monster.

But now if opponents want to avoid good shot blocker they can go for 3pt shots which are almost as good as layups and that's what we see teams do at times when Wemby is out there - they try to get 3pt shooting streak going.

[tsherkin]

But now if opponents want to avoid good shot blocker they can go for 3pt shots which are almost as good as layups and that's what we see teams do at times when Wemby is out there - they try to get 3pt shooting streak going.

Yes, but... Wemby is actually pretty good at blocking 3s. I've seen him be standing on the FT line and block a 3PA. Which is insanity. He'll get to more of those than anyone else in league history.

[cupcakesnake]

There's not because of being too conscious of FG%, that's what we call a player being a rim deterrent

Love prime1time's implication of a romantic bygone era where players simply attacked the rim carefree, completely oblivious to shotblockers and not afraid of the ego death you suffer when getting blocked

Not a phone in sight, just NBA players getting blocked and enjoying it!

Not sure why the sarcasm. In 2025 there is social media. Highlights get shared at lightning speed and there is a major emphasis on advanced stats. None of this was happening in when Eaton set the record. In 1984-85, were games even live? If you didn't watch the game live could you watch it easily after? How many views across every platform do you think Wemby's block on Lively and his subsequent stepback 3 get?

When fans see Lively, what play do you think they'll bring up? It is what it is. The NBA is a highlight driven league and social media is its rocket fuel. Twitter/X, Instagram, TikTok this is how people develop perceptions. Most people aren't going to watch an entire NBA game. 40 years ago in Eaton blocks your shot you just keep on moving. In the present day, if Wemby blocks your shot it might be the single most defining play of your entire season.

RealGM is probably filled with boomers lol. What egodeath can there be without social media in 1984/1985? There wasn't even internet. Games were on tape delay.

Maybe there are some players who fear embarrassment more than others, and yes players are more conscious of their stats and public image. I think it's taking an assumption too far to think guys are unwilling to attack the basket due to fear of humiliation. It's pretty hard to get this far in a high-performance sports league like that.

Your idea is that high block totals from certain players in the past are evidence of this idea. However, blocks numbers haven't really budged since they started tracking them in 1973. Teams record about 4-5 blocks per 100 possessions every year. The highest years on record are in the early 2000s (5.7), the lowest ever are in the mid 70s (4.1 in 1975). The last several seasons it's been between 4.7 and 5.2.

The main reason to avoid getting blocked, is not to save oneself form humiliation, it's that getting blocked means you missed the shot in a sport where you're trying to make the shot. Attacking an elite shotblocker requires strategy, not just bravery or lack of ego. You want to catch the shotblocked flat footed, and if you can't do that you need counters, fakes, floaters, etc.

The best shotblockers ever often record their highest block numbers early in their prime before the scouting report starts discouraging people from attacking.
- Ben Wallace blocks 5.1 shots per 100 possessions in 2002 and wins DPOY. He never eclipses 4.4 again in his career.
- Eaton gets 8.1 in his rookie season and then steadily declines throughout the rest of his prime.

I wasn't around to watch much Eaton, but I remember with Wallace, you'd see teams spend less time trying to score over his rim protection, and do more to get him out of the paint. I think that's what we'll see with Wemby. Spurs will try to keep him near the hoop, opponents will try to get him away from it. Gobert was the same thing: a ton of effort goes to get him out of positions where he can protect the rim.