Victor Wembanyama Mega-Thread - For all your Wembanyama needs!

[Lakers In 5]

if he'll remain healthy enough to have a long career (a big if, obviously), this dude has legit Goat potential

How about we let the kid play 10 games first before making such claims?

why, what's gonna change in 10 games?

"GOAT potential" just means that this dude has a legit theoretical path to being DPOY while being MVP.
with his size and skillset - that potential is very obvious already. it might not happen for a plethora of reasons (the most likely one being health) but the potential is there

he can play 10 games, completely suck and the potential is still gonna be there. so what's the use in waiting to make that argument?

Nothing, because those 10 games are not to be taken literally. What it is alluding to is the fact you just jumped to outrageous claims, based upon, well, nothing. He has played the exact amount of seconds in the NBA as you and I: not a single one. Let the kid play for a while before we set such ridiculous standards that aren't visible or able to be measured in any way, shape or form, that tend to do more harm than good.

[SNPA]

How about we let the kid play 10 games first before making such claims?

why, what's gonna change in 10 games?

"GOAT potential" just means that this dude has a legit theoretical path to being DPOY while being MVP.
with his size and skillset - that potential is very obvious already. it might not happen for a plethora of reasons (the most likely one being health) but the potential is there

he can play 10 games, completely suck and the potential is still gonna be there. so what's the use in waiting to make that argument?

Nothing, because those 10 games are not to be taken literally. What it is alluding to is the fact you just jumped to outrageous claims, based upon, well, nothing. He has played the exact amount of seconds in the NBA as you and I: not a single one. Let the kid play for a while before we set such ridiculous standards that aren't visible or able to be measured in any way, shape or form, that tend to do more harm than good.

Nah. I have eyes. It’s his league now.

[ropjhk]

How about we let the kid play 10 games first before making such claims?

why, what's gonna change in 10 games?

"GOAT potential" just means that this dude has a legit theoretical path to being DPOY while being MVP.
with his size and skillset - that potential is very obvious already. it might not happen for a plethora of reasons (the most likely one being health) but the potential is there

he can play 10 games, completely suck and the potential is still gonna be there. so what's the use in waiting to make that argument?

Nothing, because those 10 games are not to be taken literally. What it is alluding to is the fact you just jumped to outrageous claims, based upon, well, nothing. He has played the exact amount of seconds in the NBA as you and I: not a single one. Let the kid play for a while before we set such ridiculous standards that aren't visible or able to be measured in any way, shape or form, that tend to do more harm than good.

He has GOAT potential. It's obvious to anyone who knows basketball. We don't need to see him play any more games to know he has the tools to potentially become the GOAT.

[Exp0sed]

How about we let the kid play 10 games first before making such claims?

why, what's gonna change in 10 games?

"GOAT potential" just means that this dude has a legit theoretical path to being DPOY while being MVP.
with his size and skillset - that potential is very obvious already. it might not happen for a plethora of reasons (the most likely one being health) but the potential is there

he can play 10 games, completely suck and the potential is still gonna be there. so what's the use in waiting to make that argument?

Nothing, because those 10 games are not to be taken literally. What it is alluding to is the fact you just jumped to outrageous claims, based upon, well, nothing. He has played the exact amount of seconds in the NBA as you and I: not a single one. Let the kid play for a while before we set such ridiculous standards that aren't visible or able to be measured in any way, shape or form, that tend to do more harm than good.

bro, relax

I literally wrote "theoretical path", that's not a "claim"
furthermore, it's not "outrageous" in the least bit.

i've been following and playing basketball for over 40 years now, with Wemby the writing is on the wall.
if u can't see "it", that's fine...but it's as clear as day

doesn't matter if it's only SL, preseason or whatever. if healthy, Wemby's floor for his rookie season is basically an all-star.
I would argue it's more "outrageous" at this point to claim the opposite.

[Rainwater]

It's not an exaggeration to say this dude has GOAT potential. His measurements are unlike anything we have ever seen before, and his skillset really is a KD on offense, and a more agile Gobert on defense.

Yeah a Durant on offense and Gobert on defense is what is going to be.

[Exp0sed]

It's not an exaggeration to say this dude has GOAT potential. His measurements are unlike anything we have ever seen before, and his skillset really is a KD on offense, and a more agile Gobert on defense.

Yeah a Durant on offense and Gobert on defense is what is going to be.

Gobert isn't talented, he can barely catch a basketball.
it's a vastly more agile, considerably longer and much higher i.q and natural talent version of Gobert (on D)

furthermore, he can actually get low..his stance seems almost Guard like, so he can cover smaller guys on the perimeter in a guard like manner (by actually moving his feet, that is) and still cover them from behind (or from the front) with his incredible length

we've seen guys like Gobert deter so many shot attempts, Wemby is going to be in everybody's heads real soon in a way we haven't seen for years.
This NBA is soft af, guys are gonna be afraid to get stuffed and embarassed and just turn into Ben Simmons not even thinking about the shot or the basket and driving just to pass

[UcanUwill]

It's not an exaggeration to say this dude has GOAT potential. His measurements are unlike anything we have ever seen before, and his skillset really is a KD on offense, and a more agile Gobert on defense.

Yeah a Durant on offense and Gobert on defense is what is going to be.

He will be better defender than Gobert in my hopeful opinion. I think he is already better, but what do I know? His rim protection is legendary and he is also more switchable than Gobert and he shuts down passing lanes better.

[ChuckChilly]

Closet thing well ever get to see to a player having a prime Wilt Chamberlain impact on the floor.

[zero rings]

How about we let the kid play 10 games first before making such claims?

why, what's gonna change in 10 games?

"GOAT potential" just means that this dude has a legit theoretical path to being DPOY while being MVP.
with his size and skillset - that potential is very obvious already. it might not happen for a plethora of reasons (the most likely one being health) but the potential is there

he can play 10 games, completely suck and the potential is still gonna be there. so what's the use in waiting to make that argument?

Nothing, because those 10 games are not to be taken literally. What it is alluding to is the fact you just jumped to outrageous claims, based upon, well, nothing. He has played the exact amount of seconds in the NBA as you and I: not a single one. Let the kid play for a while before we set such ridiculous standards that aren't visible or able to be measured in any way, shape or form, that tend to do more harm than good.

Clearly it is not based on nothing. He has the best basketball frame in the history of the sport. With even average skill he is going to be a great player, and it looks like he possesses at least that.

You're acting like it's impossible to evaluate talent without seeing them on an NBA court.

[tsherkin]

Talent is not Wemby's issue, if he can be said to have one. People are excited about him, and he's certainly doing things worthy of excitement. It's all preseason crap, so it's not worth going nuts over, but it is happening and it is better than it not happening. Dude can contest and block shots without really jumping at all, and has footspeed. That's... dangerous. Very dangerous. If he can harness that while staying heathy, his D alone will be pretty high impact. And he's got some interesting potential on O. His rebounding needs work, but we play in a weird time compared to traditional basketball, so it can be made to work. We've got 7+ rpg guards and swings out there now and in the past, plus other front court guys and stuff. Lots of ways to work around what you might call a center who doesn't rebound particularly well by volume (esp with the other ways he can potentially contribute).

HIs upper bound in potential is certainly there. How much of it he reaches remains to be seen, but like, it isn't unreasonable to look at him and be super, super excited. Making grand statements about what WILL be is perhaps much, but dude has crazy potential.

[zimpy27]

I'm most interested to see how he does against Jokic or Embiid

[tsherkin]

I'm most interested to see how he does against Jokic or Embiid

If he plays well, that'll be cool. If he doesn't, eh; he's a rook and they are star bigs. No surprise if they get theirs all over him. Though, I do remember rookie Bynum giving Shaq a nice little shake'n'bake, hehe. Sometimes the young cats do get it done against the old guys.

[zimpy27]

I'm most interested to see how he does against Jokic or Embiid

If he plays well, that'll be cool. If he doesn't, eh; he's a rook and they are star bigs. No surprise if they get theirs all over him. Though, I do remember rookie Bynum giving Shaq a nice little shake'n'bake, hehe. Sometimes the young cats do get it done against the old guys.

Yeah true. I think Wemby's weaknesses will be brought out over the season, NBA teams and players will be interested in testing the "GOAT prospect" out this year.

[_jin]

Mavs prepping for Wemby

Read on Twitter

[tsherkin]

Yeah true. I think Wemby's weaknesses will be brought out over the season, NBA teams and players will be interested in testing the "GOAT prospect" out this year.

Yeah, probably. But basically it's a free ride for him. He doesn't have to be dominant as a rook. Even Lebron was inefficient and had a lot to learn in his first season. He's a kid. He's skinny, he's inexperienced, the NBA is gonna be new. He'll have great nights and terrible ones and probably a bunch of forgettable ones, and that's all just fine for a 19 year-old rookie. Tempered expectations are important, and if he exceeds them, hells yeah, hang on for the ride.

[G R E Y]

Read on Twitter

[Bornstellar]

I'm most interested to see how he does against Jokic or Embiid

There is zero chance that Pop will have him matching up on defense against either of them, imo

[sikma42]

The thing about Wemby is that he is doing this while still developing into his body. When he grows into his body and adds strength, there is a real chance his balance and pop drantically increases and he is doing Giannis-like stuff (Euro poster dunks from the 3 point line).


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[damanick10]

why, what's gonna change in 10 games?

"GOAT potential" just means that this dude has a legit theoretical path to being DPOY while being MVP.
with his size and skillset - that potential is very obvious already. it might not happen for a plethora of reasons (the most likely one being health) but the potential is there

he can play 10 games, completely suck and the potential is still gonna be there. so what's the use in waiting to make that argument?

Nothing, because those 10 games are not to be taken literally. What it is alluding to is the fact you just jumped to outrageous claims, based upon, well, nothing. He has played the exact amount of seconds in the NBA as you and I: not a single one. Let the kid play for a while before we set such ridiculous standards that aren't visible or able to be measured in any way, shape or form, that tend to do more harm than good.

He has GOAT potential. It's obvious to anyone who knows basketball. We don't need to see him play any more games to know he has the tools to potentially become the GOAT.

Lebron fans are sensitive about this right now just leave him be

[tsherkin]

The thing about Wemby is that he is doing this while still developing into his body. When he grows into his body and adds strength, there is a real chance his balance and pop drantically increases and he is doing Giannis-like stuff (Euro poster dunks from the 3 point line).

It's possible. I don't think power/strength is ever going to be his angle, though. Not with that frame. Nor really should it be, as that's just asking for overtasking his joints.

At some point, dude can just rise up over anyone. You basically can't contest his shot unless he doesn't see you coming and you have some ups and wingspan. So hopefully, he'll continue developing that shot, because even into his old age (relatively speaking), that shot will be there for him anywhere on the court. Catch high, don't bring it down, turn, shoot well over defender. Bucket. Lather, rinse, repeat. And that's AFTER his pretty solid foot speed starts to fade and he's old-man Dirk'g it at the elbow all game long.