Update Game 2! Wembanyama vs Scoot on ESPN 2/ESPN App/NBA app

[Antinomy]

Idk why people are offended by the pre-injury Porzingis 2.0 comparison.

Porzingis was slightly less fluid than him in terms of perimeter ballhandling (not that it matters too much) but KP was definitely putting the ball on the floor, crossing over & shooting pull-up jumpers — why are people acting like he wasn’t being called the unicorn early on?

as a knicks fan who had prime KP, he was way less polished than victor. victor also looks much more fluid.

Well yeah. Porzingis was drafted to be more of a project but turned out way better than he was supposed to early on.

Webanyama can ballhandle a bit (which I’m not sure I believe in at the NBA level, at his height), but that’s about it.

KP had a face-up game, was catching lobs, doing putback dunks, quick crossovers, shooting from mid-range & deep — once he came back from the ACL, he moved to full-time C & never got his mobility back.

He was also an ELITE rim protector.

Only difference is KP never really did any ballhandling on the perimeter.

Wembanyana has more potential for sure but the comparison is there. I don’t see the Durant comp at all.

[yoyoboy]

Honestly if he was in the same draft with LeBron, I think he might go #1 over him. I mean Wembayama is just unreal at this point.

[Pharmcat]

Wembanyama will be the next icon on the official nba basketball logo

[3toheadmelo]

Idk why people are offended by the pre-injury Porzingis 2.0 comparison.

Porzingis was slightly less fluid than him in terms of perimeter ballhandling (not that it matters too much) but KP was definitely putting the ball on the floor, crossing over & shooting pull-up jumpers — why are people acting like he wasn’t being called the unicorn early on?

as a knicks fan who had prime KP, he was way less polished than victor. victor also looks much more fluid.

Well yeah. Porzingis was drafted to be more of a project but turned out way better than he was supposed to early on.

Webanyama can ballhandle a bit (which I’m not sure I believe in at the NBA level, at his height), but that’s about it.

KP had a face-up game, was catching lobs, doing putback dunks, quick crossovers, shooting from mid-range & deep — once he came back from the ACL, he moved to full-time C & never got his mobility back.

He was also an ELITE rim protector.

Only difference is KP never really did any ballhandling on the perimeter.

Wembanyana has more potential for sure but the comparison is there. I don’t see the Durant comp at all.

KP's game was really limited. he did not have much moves. he mostly just faced up and shot over defenders. he would do a lil crossover every once in a while but that was it. he had a lot of trouble posting up smaller guards, poor rebounder and awful playmaker. he rarely created off the dribble. and the biggest difference is that victor looks way more natural with his moves. KP looked mad awkward.

victor is already doing shimmy fades from the post, creating off the dribble, being dominant on the boards. he's showing he can pass too. and it all just looks natural.

[Onlytimewilltel]

He's the real deal, but I can't be the only one thinking that it's actually a huge detriment to his game with how much he's trying play like Kevin Durant. Like, you're 7'4 dude, no need to be fading away and jab stepping on these mid-range jumpers. Just shoot over them and develop a jump hook/layup. Substance >>> style.

He has to play that way. Imagine him in the paint with Zion barrelling in to his legs. Guys that tall should be on the perimeter to limit their injury chance IMO

Agreed. He’s clearly super effective on offense this way and unstoppable. Why go bang low all game and get injured.

[anotherhomer]

you guys should absolutely tank for him....
but also no offense to your FO/ownership,
you guys would somehow find a way to ruin him

the only hope is that, a new owner would offer Dolan a huge offer for him to cash out, and properly build around Victor

as a knicks fan who had prime KP, he was way less polished than victor. victor also looks much more fluid.

Well yeah. Porzingis was drafted to be more of a project but turned out way better than he was supposed to early on.

Webanyama can ballhandle a bit (which I’m not sure I believe in at the NBA level, at his height), but that’s about it.

KP had a face-up game, was catching lobs, doing putback dunks, quick crossovers, shooting from mid-range & deep — once he came back from the ACL, he moved to full-time C & never got his mobility back.

He was also an ELITE rim protector.

Only difference is KP never really did any ballhandling on the perimeter.

Wembanyana has more potential for sure but the comparison is there. I don’t see the Durant comp at all.

KP's game was really limited. he did not have much moves. he mostly just faced up and shot over defenders. he would do a lil crossover every once in a while but that was it. he had a lot of trouble posting up smaller guards, poor rebounder and awful playmaker. he rarely created off the dribble. and the biggest difference is that victor looks way more natural with his moves. KP looked mad awkward.

victor is already doing shimmy fades from the post, creating off the dribble, being dominant on the boards. he's showing he can pass too. and it all just looks natural.

[anotherhomer]

you guys should absolutely tank for him....
but also no offense to your FO/ownership,
you guys would somehow find a way to ruin him

the only hope is that, a new owner would offer Dolan a huge offer for him to cash out, and properly build around Victor

as a knicks fan who had prime KP, he was way less polished than victor. victor also looks much more fluid.

Well yeah. Porzingis was drafted to be more of a project but turned out way better than he was supposed to early on.

Webanyama can ballhandle a bit (which I’m not sure I believe in at the NBA level, at his height), but that’s about it.

KP had a face-up game, was catching lobs, doing putback dunks, quick crossovers, shooting from mid-range & deep — once he came back from the ACL, he moved to full-time C & never got his mobility back.

He was also an ELITE rim protector.

Only difference is KP never really did any ballhandling on the perimeter.

Wembanyana has more potential for sure but the comparison is there. I don’t see the Durant comp at all.

KP's game was really limited. he did not have much moves. he mostly just faced up and shot over defenders. he would do a lil crossover every once in a while but that was it. he had a lot of trouble posting up smaller guards, poor rebounder and awful playmaker. he rarely created off the dribble. and the biggest difference is that victor looks way more natural with his moves. KP looked mad awkward.

victor is already doing shimmy fades from the post, creating off the dribble, being dominant on the boards. he's showing he can pass too. and it all just looks natural.

[Prez]

I’m getting the same vibes. I feel like people overemphasize having a face-up game, a perimeter game or a ‘bag’. I’m like where is the post moves and the rebounding.

In other words you love being a contrarian.

Only when the praise borderlines on hyperbole. Bol Bol was doing step backs and crossovers in the bubble. Now he’s a 3rd string backup on a team that’s projected to win 26 games. People are shouting alien all over social media like the NBA hasn’t seen this before.

Bol Bol averaged 5ppg in the bubble. You being serious?

[zimpy27]

Idk why people are offended by the pre-injury Porzingis 2.0 comparison.

Porzingis was slightly less fluid than him in terms of perimeter ballhandling (not that it matters too much) but KP was definitely putting the ball on the floor, crossing over & shooting pull-up jumpers — why are people acting like he wasn’t being called the unicorn early on?

as a knicks fan who had prime KP, he was way less polished than victor. victor also looks much more fluid.

Well yeah. Porzingis was drafted to be more of a project but turned out way better than he was supposed to early on.

Webanyama can ballhandle a bit (which I’m not sure I believe in at the NBA level, at his height), but that’s about it.

KP had a face-up game, was catching lobs, doing putback dunks, quick crossovers, shooting from mid-range & deep — once he came back from the ACL, he moved to full-time C & never got his mobility back.

He was also an ELITE rim protector.

Only difference is KP never really did any ballhandling on the perimeter.

Wembanyana has more potential for sure but the comparison is there. I don’t see the Durant comp at all.

I find it hilarious that people are upset with the Porzingis comparison when it's Victors closest comparsion. Prozingis had better pre-NBA shooting numbers but less blocks.

I think people just misremember pre-injury Porzingis and don't realise his game has changed a lot due to injury.

[3toheadmelo]

you guys should absolutely tank for him....
but also no offense to your FO/ownership,
you guys would somehow find a way to ruin him

the only hope is that, a new owner would offer Dolan a huge offer for him to cash out, and properly build around Victor

Well yeah. Porzingis was drafted to be more of a project but turned out way better than he was supposed to early on.

Webanyama can ballhandle a bit (which I’m not sure I believe in at the NBA level, at his height), but that’s about it.

KP had a face-up game, was catching lobs, doing putback dunks, quick crossovers, shooting from mid-range & deep — once he came back from the ACL, he moved to full-time C & never got his mobility back.

He was also an ELITE rim protector.

Only difference is KP never really did any ballhandling on the perimeter.

Wembanyana has more potential for sure but the comparison is there. I don’t see the Durant comp at all.

KP's game was really limited. he did not have much moves. he mostly just faced up and shot over defenders. he would do a lil crossover every once in a while but that was it. he had a lot of trouble posting up smaller guards, poor rebounder and awful playmaker. he rarely created off the dribble. and the biggest difference is that victor looks way more natural with his moves. KP looked mad awkward.

victor is already doing shimmy fades from the post, creating off the dribble, being dominant on the boards. he's showing he can pass too. and it all just looks natural.

yeah we might ruin him

we def not tanking this year tho. that went out the window once we gave brunson the bag. they tryna compete

[Onlytimewilltel]

Easily the best prospect since Lebron and there’s probably a chance he’s actually a better prospect than Lebron.

Of course LBJ lived up to every bit of hype.

Kinda have to agree. This guy actually has a sweet jumper, unlike Lebron. If lebron had a jumper like this he’d be the goat. Victor has insane potential.

[zimpy27]

as a knicks fan who had prime KP, he was way less polished than victor. victor also looks much more fluid.

Well yeah. Porzingis was drafted to be more of a project but turned out way better than he was supposed to early on.

Webanyama can ballhandle a bit (which I’m not sure I believe in at the NBA level, at his height), but that’s about it.

KP had a face-up game, was catching lobs, doing putback dunks, quick crossovers, shooting from mid-range & deep — once he came back from the ACL, he moved to full-time C & never got his mobility back.

He was also an ELITE rim protector.

Only difference is KP never really did any ballhandling on the perimeter.

Wembanyana has more potential for sure but the comparison is there. I don’t see the Durant comp at all.

KP's game was really limited. he did not have much moves. he mostly just faced up and shot over defenders. he would do a lil crossover every once in a while but that was it. he had a lot of trouble posting up smaller guards, poor rebounder and awful playmaker. he rarely created off the dribble. and the biggest difference is that victor looks way more natural with his moves. KP looked mad awkward.

victor is already doing shimmy fades from the post, creating off the dribble, being dominant on the boards. he's showing he can pass too. and it all just looks natural.

I think just watching one game worth of highlights undermines your point

Watch on YouTube

[3toheadmelo]

Well yeah. Porzingis was drafted to be more of a project but turned out way better than he was supposed to early on.

Webanyama can ballhandle a bit (which I’m not sure I believe in at the NBA level, at his height), but that’s about it.

KP had a face-up game, was catching lobs, doing putback dunks, quick crossovers, shooting from mid-range & deep — once he came back from the ACL, he moved to full-time C & never got his mobility back.

He was also an ELITE rim protector.

Only difference is KP never really did any ballhandling on the perimeter.

Wembanyana has more potential for sure but the comparison is there. I don’t see the Durant comp at all.

KP's game was really limited. he did not have much moves. he mostly just faced up and shot over defenders. he would do a lil crossover every once in a while but that was it. he had a lot of trouble posting up smaller guards, poor rebounder and awful playmaker. he rarely created off the dribble. and the biggest difference is that victor looks way more natural with his moves. KP looked mad awkward.

victor is already doing shimmy fades from the post, creating off the dribble, being dominant on the boards. he's showing he can pass too. and it all just looks natural.

I think just watching one game worth of highlights undermines your point

Watch on YouTube

you just proved my point. one game.

that season KP started off hot and then cooled off hard before he tore his acl. teams figured out how to guard him. i don't think you remember that season that well to be honest.

[NoDopeOnSundays]

as a knicks fan who had prime KP, he was way less polished than victor. victor also looks much more fluid.

Well yeah. Porzingis was drafted to be more of a project but turned out way better than he was supposed to early on.

Webanyama can ballhandle a bit (which I’m not sure I believe in at the NBA level, at his height), but that’s about it.

KP had a face-up game, was catching lobs, doing putback dunks, quick crossovers, shooting from mid-range & deep — once he came back from the ACL, he moved to full-time C & never got his mobility back.

He was also an ELITE rim protector.

Only difference is KP never really did any ballhandling on the perimeter.

Wembanyana has more potential for sure but the comparison is there. I don’t see the Durant comp at all.

I find it hilarious that people are upset with the Porzingis comparison when it's Victors closest comparsion. Prozingis had better pre-NBA shooting numbers but less blocks.

I think people just misremember pre-injury Porzingis and don't realise his game has changed a lot due to injury.

I saw all of Porzingis games in the NBA before he got hurt, he was good but he wasn't doing the things we saw from Victor today, and he wasn't even remotely this fluid in his movement. There's a lot more perimeter creation in Victor's game than what Porzingis had, especially at this age, when we had Porzingis he could do some light creation but he was really just a really good play finisher and a 2 dribble max type of guy.

The Kristaps comparison is lazy to me, I feel like he's a lot closer to Embiid in terms of self creation than he is to Kristaps. I could see him operating from a lot of the same spots as Embiid, except he's almost half a foot taller than Joel.

[Dan Z]

He's the real deal, but I can't be the only one thinking that it's actually a huge detriment to his game with how much he's trying play like Kevin Durant. Like, you're 7'4 dude, no need to be fading away and jab stepping on these mid-range jumpers. Just shoot over them and develop a jump hook/layup. Substance >>> style.

The fact that he can do those skills is impressive, but I tend to agree with you (although I'm sure I'm a bit old school in my thinking about bigs).

[zimpy27]

KP's game was really limited. he did not have much moves. he mostly just faced up and shot over defenders. he would do a lil crossover every once in a while but that was it. he had a lot of trouble posting up smaller guards, poor rebounder and awful playmaker. he rarely created off the dribble. and the biggest difference is that victor looks way more natural with his moves. KP looked mad awkward.

victor is already doing shimmy fades from the post, creating off the dribble, being dominant on the boards. he's showing he can pass too. and it all just looks natural.

I think just watching one game worth of highlights undermines your point

Watch on YouTube

you just proved my point. one game.

that season KP started off hot and then cooled off hard before he tore his acl. teams figured out how to guard him. i don't think you remember that season that well to be honest.

Sure people learned to guard him but the same will be withd Wemby? Victor has worse shooting %s than Kristaps did in Europe before he came to the NBA.

The point we are making is that KP had a very similar game to Victor pre-injury. That's all. I think Victor moves better and is better defensively. But the comp is a good one.

[DaGawd]

Well yeah. Porzingis was drafted to be more of a project but turned out way better than he was supposed to early on.

Webanyama can ballhandle a bit (which I’m not sure I believe in at the NBA level, at his height), but that’s about it.

KP had a face-up game, was catching lobs, doing putback dunks, quick crossovers, shooting from mid-range & deep — once he came back from the ACL, he moved to full-time C & never got his mobility back.

He was also an ELITE rim protector.

Only difference is KP never really did any ballhandling on the perimeter.

Wembanyana has more potential for sure but the comparison is there. I don’t see the Durant comp at all.

KP's game was really limited. he did not have much moves. he mostly just faced up and shot over defenders. he would do a lil crossover every once in a while but that was it. he had a lot of trouble posting up smaller guards, poor rebounder and awful playmaker. he rarely created off the dribble. and the biggest difference is that victor looks way more natural with his moves. KP looked mad awkward.

victor is already doing shimmy fades from the post, creating off the dribble, being dominant on the boards. he's showing he can pass too. and it all just looks natural.

I think just watching one game worth of highlights undermines your point

Watch on YouTube

to be fair this was kp in like his 3rd szn

[Antinomy]

Once again, he looks good but let’s pump the brakes a bit.

His best skill right now seems to be face-up ISO scoring & shooting — unless he becomes a game-breaking scorer, he offensive impact may not be as high as you would want.

Can he run an offense? Move around off-the-ball? Run a PnR as the ballhandler or roller? Play in the high post?

These will be questions that need to be addressed.

He handles the ball well for a guy his size but I’m telling you, a 7’4 guy doing dribble moves on the perimeter in the NBA ain’t happening unless he improves his ball control & security.

I think his best case is a 7’4 MPJ with elite defense & rim protection OR pre-injury KP 2.0 w/ better perimeter skills.

[3toheadmelo]

I think just watching one game worth of highlights undermines your point

Watch on YouTube

you just proved my point. one game.

that season KP started off hot and then cooled off hard before he tore his acl. teams figured out how to guard him. i don't think you remember that season that well to be honest.

Sure people learned to guard him but the same will be withd Wemby? Victor has worse shooting %s than Kristaps did in Europe before he came to the NBA.

The point we are making is that KP had a very similar game to Victor pre-injury. That's all. I think Victor moves better and is better defensively. But the comp is a good one.

Us Knicks fans who watched all of pre injury KP don’t really see the comparison. That’s all

[NoDopeOnSundays]

I think just watching one game worth of highlights undermines your point

Watch on YouTube

you just proved my point. one game.

that season KP started off hot and then cooled off hard before he tore his acl. teams figured out how to guard him. i don't think you remember that season that well to be honest.

Sure people learned to guard him but the same will be withd Wemby? Victor has worse shooting %s than Kristaps did in Europe before he came to the NBA.

The point we are making is that KP had a very similar game to Victor pre-injury. That's all. I think Victor moves better and is better defensively. But the comp is a good one.

I don't know why you're using the pre-NBA shooting percentages so much, especially since Victor's stats from this season are clearly going to balloon. Going by pre-NBA stats alone nobody would have drafted the skinny kid from Greece playing against middle schoolers.

Melo and I saw a lot of pre-injury Kristaps since he was on our team, Kristaps did not have that good of a handle, and looked like a big when he tried to pull off moves. He could do a simple crossover, he wasn't doing a lot off the dribble, if he were doing hesi-hangs into clean pullup threes we never would have traded him