Victor's shot-blocking is obviously insane, but his defensive rebounding is just as good

[FrodoBaggins]

Victor's obviously blocking a lot of shots (13.2 BLK%), but he's also cleaning the defensive glass like crazy (40.3 DRB%). This is unique because the act of blocking a shot tends to take one out of a rebounding position. Both marks would set all-time single-season records:

https://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/blk_pct_season.html
https://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/drb_pct_season.html

Just remarkable. For comparison, Rudy Gobert did 6.4 BLK% and 34.9 DRB% across 2020-21 and 2021-22. Dipper 13's Bill Russell tracking had him at 7 BLK% and 36 DRB%:

Spoiler:

His ability to block/alter shots AND clean the defensive boards. Based on the available (limited) video footage, he was 7% in shot blocking percentage and roughly 36% in defensive rebounding percentage. To be that dominant in either one of those areas is something, but to be that dominant in both? Keep in mind how shot blocking tends to take you out of proper rebounding position. Below are the career leaders for block percentage and defensive rebounding percentage. To think Russell might be near or at the top on both of these lists is amazing.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/blk_pct_career.html

http://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/drb_pct_career.html


He was basically rebounding the defensive glass like Rodman and blocking shots like Hakeem/Robinson. You talk about a guy who not only doesn't have a defensive weakness, but is so dominant at virtually every area on that side, that is Bill Russell.

1966 Celtics defensive highlights -

Watch on YouTube

;t=36m47s



Plus he may the be the best at keeping his hands up on defense, even after jumping. This is something you rarely see with contemporary big men. Below we can see how Russell keeps his arms up when defending after a fake, both in a practice drill and in playoff competition vs. Willis Reed. Have we ever seen such a fundamentally sound defensive player since?

Watch on YouTube

;t=2m32s

Watch on YouTube

;t=17m44s



Russell also had the best reflexes of any player ever at any position and a unique shot blocking style where he used his wrist to deflect shots rather than swat it out of bounds. Very seldom have we seen other big men do this with the same consistency.

Watch on YouTube

;t=12m55s

[Mr Puddles]

Bro, I like him too but he's getting overhyped at this point. I mean, do we really need a yet ANOTHER thread about Victor Claver?

[prime1time]

Victor's obviously blocking a lot of shots (13.2 BLK%), but he's also cleaning the defensive glass like crazy (40.3 DRB%). This is unique because the act of blocking a shot tends to take one out of a rebounding position. Both marks would set all-time single-season records:

https://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/blk_pct_season.html
https://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/drb_pct_season.html

Just remarkable. For comparison, Rudy Gobert did 6.4 BLK% and 34.9 DRB% across 2020-21 and 2021-22. Dipper 13's Bill Russell tracking had him at 7 BLK% and 36 DRB%:

Spoiler:

His ability to block/alter shots AND clean the defensive boards. Based on the available (limited) video footage, he was 7% in shot blocking percentage and roughly 36% in defensive rebounding percentage. To be that dominant in either one of those areas is something, but to be that dominant in both? Keep in mind how shot blocking tends to take you out of proper rebounding position. Below are the career leaders for block percentage and defensive rebounding percentage. To think Russell might be near or at the top on both of these lists is amazing.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/blk_pct_career.html

http://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/drb_pct_career.html


He was basically rebounding the defensive glass like Rodman and blocking shots like Hakeem/Robinson. You talk about a guy who not only doesn't have a defensive weakness, but is so dominant at virtually every area on that side, that is Bill Russell.

1966 Celtics defensive highlights -

Watch on YouTube

;t=36m47s



Plus he may the be the best at keeping his hands up on defense, even after jumping. This is something you rarely see with contemporary big men. Below we can see how Russell keeps his arms up when defending after a fake, both in a practice drill and in playoff competition vs. Willis Reed. Have we ever seen such a fundamentally sound defensive player since?

Watch on YouTube

;t=2m32s

Watch on YouTube

;t=17m44s



Russell also had the best reflexes of any player ever at any position and a unique shot blocking style where he used his wrist to deflect shots rather than swat it out of bounds. Very seldom have we seen other big men do this with the same consistency.

Watch on YouTube

;t=12m55s

Good post. I started to notice this also just watching the game. He's like a vacuum cleaner for rebounds.

[tsherkin]

He's been hovering around or just above 30% DRB over his first two seasons, which is very Kevin Love-ish (aka, very good). Love put a 40.1% DRB stretch together over a 22-game partial season in 2019.

So we'll have to see whether this sustains over a more meaningful stretch, but he's obviously an excellent defensive rebounder.

[LeBronSpaghetti]

Bro, I like him too but he's getting overhyped at this point. I mean, do we really need a yet ANOTHER thread about Victor Claver?

Agreed. I’ll be called a hater but let’s just chill a bit. The combined record for teams the spurs have faced this season is 6-18. The man has never played a playoff game. He easily has best in the world potential but I’ve seen people online saying he’s already the best in the world and trending to be the goat.

[dbrog24]

I think a lot of people on here might see this as "well of course...he's tall AF." That's not really the main case with his rebounding. His rebounds are much higher this year because he has gotten significantly better at keeping his arms up when grabbing the ball rather than bringing them down (Dwight Howard was horrible about this). He's also made a consistent effort to put a body on someone when the ball goes up to box them out of the rim space. Also on offense, he's no longer just standing around the 3 pt line, he's getting in the paint or at least on the wing, which then puts him much closer to the basket for an offensive rebound

Who knew...a player working on basic fundamentals could make himself much better. A LOT of the nba should make note of this instead of learning the next way to do a stepback

[prime1time]

Bro, I like him too but he's getting overhyped at this point. I mean, do we really need a yet ANOTHER thread about Victor Claver?

Agreed. I’ll be called a hater but let’s just chill a bit. The combined record for teams the spurs have faced this season is 6-18. The man has never played a playoff game. He easily has best in the world potential but I’ve seen people online saying he’s already the best in the world and trending to be the goat.

LBJ fans feeling the heat lol. LeBron hype was way larger and way grander before LBJ had accomplished anything in the NBA. You're just frustrated that 21 year old Wemby is clearly better than 21 year old LBJ. Put Wemby in the weak eastern conference and he'd easily outperform what LBJ accomplished.

[The High Cyde]

I think a lot of people on here might see this as "well of course...he's tall AF." That's not really the main case with his rebounding. His rebounds are much higher this year because he has gotten significantly better at keeping his arms up when grabbing the ball rather than bringing them down (Dwight Howard was horrible about this). He's also made a consistent effort to put a body on someone when the ball goes up to box them out of the rim space. Also on offense, he's no longer just standing around the 3 pt line, he's getting in the paint or at least on the wing, which then puts him much closer to the basket for an offensive rebound

Who knew...a player working on basic fundamentals could make himself much better. A LOT of the nba should make note of this instead of learning the next way to do a stepback

What you say is true for the most part, what I'd sort of add to that is that is Victor was allowed to play however he wanted when he first came into the league, and I think it was a concerted effort to keep him away from the paint from the heavier bodies which could lead to injuries. No one needs that and its best to avoid until he develops his body a bit more and gains strength which we are starting to see.

Hmm and the thing about keeping your arms up, man it's draining, especially for a big man, and Dwight had tanks for arms, he was good cause of his positioning and rebounding, as any great big man is, and we're seeing Wemby follow that as you've noted.

[sashaturiaf]

Stop the press

You're telling me the tallest guy, with the longest arms is good at rebounding ? Wow, does he offer a course to sell on how he does it?

[LeBronSpaghetti]

Bro, I like him too but he's getting overhyped at this point. I mean, do we really need a yet ANOTHER thread about Victor Claver?

Agreed. I’ll be called a hater but let’s just chill a bit. The combined record for teams the spurs have faced this season is 6-18. The man has never played a playoff game. He easily has best in the world potential but I’ve seen people online saying he’s already the best in the world and trending to be the goat.

LBJ fans feeling the heat lol. LeBron hype was way larger and way grander before LBJ had accomplished anything in the NBA. You're just frustrated that 21 year old Wemby is clearly better than 21 year old LBJ. Put Wemby in the weak eastern conference and he'd easily outperform what LBJ accomplished.

I’m not a LeBron fan at all. Very weird narrative you’ve fabricated in your mind.

[prime1time]

Agreed. I’ll be called a hater but let’s just chill a bit. The combined record for teams the spurs have faced this season is 6-18. The man has never played a playoff game. He easily has best in the world potential but I’ve seen people online saying he’s already the best in the world and trending to be the goat.

LBJ fans feeling the heat lol. LeBron hype was way larger and way grander before LBJ had accomplished anything in the NBA. You're just frustrated that 21 year old Wemby is clearly better than 21 year old LBJ. Put Wemby in the weak eastern conference and he'd easily outperform what LBJ accomplished.

I’m not a LeBron fan at all. Very weird narrative you’ve fabricated in your mind.

Ok LeBronSpaghetti lol

[bonita_the_frog]

Giannis is averaging 36.3 points, 14.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists, .695 field, .571 threes
Wemby is averaging 30.2 points, 14.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, .563 field, .313 threes

[sashaturiaf]

LBJ fans feeling the heat lol. LeBron hype was way larger and way grander before LBJ had accomplished anything in the NBA. You're just frustrated that 21 year old Wemby is clearly better than 21 year old LBJ. Put Wemby in the weak eastern conference and he'd easily outperform what LBJ accomplished.

I’m not a LeBron fan at all. Very weird narrative you’ve fabricated in your mind.

Ok LeBronSpaghetti lol

Next he'll be telling us he doesn't like spaghetti, like at all. It's just a narrative