As a 21-year-old, Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama is still blossoming into his own. It has been known that the Wemby we know now will not be the Wemby we know tomorrow. Unlike anyone, the Frenchman is as dedicated a basketball player as you will find, and he wants nothing else but to continue to improve his game.
In the Spurs’ first game of the season against the Dallas Mavericks, Wembanyama wasted no time in getting started. The Alien came right out of the gate and dominated. Piling on 21 points in the first half, it is abundantly obvious that he has improved.
The greatest factor in Wembanyama’s hasty start was his aggression. In his first two seasons, whether because of his strength or his acclimation to the NBA, he often played passively. Now, Wemby is not taking no for an answer. Like a bullet out of a gun, Wemby quickly thrust himself into the game on offense, and it all came from inside the arc.
Wembanyama’s improvements showed up immediately
After fans had begged for Wembanyama to ease up on the threes and consider using his height more inside, it is clear he heard the complaints. The entirety of the big man’s 21 first-half points came from within the paint, mid-range pull-ups, and earned free-throw attempts. This is a far cry from the player we saw last season.
Amidst his electric first half, the Alien was looking like just that. Whether it was absurdly difficult mid-range contested shots or an out-of-this-world reverse dunk, Wembanyama was doing it all. All Defensive team caliber defenders, Dereck Lively and Anthony Davis, have been no match for Vic.
Time and time again, Wembanyama selectively used his body to his advantage and showcased his improved strength. Based on his play just one half into the season, it is clear that his offseason work was for the best.
Victor Wembanyama put in immense work over the offseason
In recovery from the deep vein thrombosis he suffered after last season’s All-Star break, Victor has been nothing short of locked-in. Throughout the offseason, Wembanyama has pursued a handful of extracurriculars and new regimens to help push him toward the player he wants to be. No better example of this was his time spent in China with monks, which helped him better understand his mind and body.
Further, Wembanyama made it in a focused effort to improve his strength. Over his first two seasons in the NBA, one of the only missing traits in his game was his ability to go body-to-body with opposing bigs. Oftentimes, the big man struggled to absorb contact and push through to the basket, leading him to settle for threes.
Knowing this, the big man tirelessly worked to strengthen his body and prepare himself to take some damage. These new improvements first showed up in the preseason, where he created multiple highlights, taking on defenders and finishing with authority. All that was left was to see it happen in the regular season, and oh boy, has it shown up.
