Position: Center

Team: Metropolitans 92

Height: 223 cm / 7’4”

Weight: 103 kg / 227 lbs

Wingspan: 244 cm / 8’0”

Born: January 4, 2004

We saved the best for the last. There is already so much written about Victor Wembanyama that you are probably already familiar with him and his game. Victor is really unique in many ways and I highly believe that he can become a special player and go in the history books as one of the best to ever touch the “orange ball.” He showed what he is capable of with leading Metropolitans to the finals in French league and winning the regular season MVP award. He also won the Best Young Player, Best Defender, Best Scorer and Best Blocker award… he took all possible regular season awards. Now it is time for the next step in his career and to play against the “big boys.”

STATS

• Averages:

44 games, 32:11 min, 20.6 pts, 10.1 reb (1.8 off reb), 2.5 ast, 0.8 stl, 3.0 blk (55.2% 2P%, 27.1% 3P%, 82.4% FT%)

• Per40:

25.6 pts, 12.6 reb (2.2 off reb), 3.1 ast, 1.0 stl, 3.7 blk

• Advanced Stats:

111.4 ORTG, 100.8 DRTG, 57.2 TS%, 6.3 OREB%, 27.4 DREB%, 17.4 REB%, 14.7 AST%, 1.3 STL%, 9.5 BLK%

STRENGTHS

• Scoring versatility – he can score in any imaginable way and it is not easy to defend him
• Ball handling skills – his ball handling skills are great for a player his size, can bring the ball over, play isolation or create separation
• Playmaking ability – shown many times this season that his baskeball IQ and passing skills are on elite level. Makes great passes out of post ups if double teammed
• Defensive upside – has the tools to be an all-time great defender, makes impact as rim protector
• Instincts – makes quick decisions and reads, great timing for blocks and rebounds
• Physical tools – measurements, agility, mobility, flexibility, athleticism… it looks like every piece of the puzzle is at the right place 

IMPROVEMENT AREAS

• Shooting – his percentages and especially the shot selection has room to improve
• Defending in space & closeouts – due to his high hips he can have a hard time with rotating and changing directions quick enough in defense; can be exploited in PnR and PnP defense
• Post up defense – struggles defending physical players down low
• Engine not always running – sometimes doesn’t go actively for rebounds or returns to defense after a turnover
• Turnovers – sometimes wants to show too much or too advanced stuff and that results in turnovers

OUTLOOK 

I don’t know what should happen that San Antonio doesn’t pick Victor Wembanyama as the #1 pick and I believe that this is one of the easiest draft decisions in more than 10 years. NBA Draft is more or less about the upside of a player and Victor’s upside is higher than the sky. There were many cases in last seasons of players with lanky body types coming into the draft and even though their offensive game was raw or not quite developed, NBA teams took the gamble due to the high upside of the player. Victor’s story is much different since he has proven over and over again that he can play and that he is among the most skilled players in this draft already but can still improve in all technical aspects of the game. So his “floor” is very high but not many players in the history of the game are able to come close to his “ceiling.” I believe that Victor has the potential to be one of the best players that ever touched the “orange ball” if he just stays healthy!

Victor Wembanyama (PF/C | 219 cm | ‘04) ~ France

14.0 pts, 2FG-55.7%, 3FG-18.2%, FT-78.3%, 7.4 rebs, 1.4 ast, 0.6 stl, 1.9 to, 5.7 blks

I think it is not even debatable that he was the best prospect at the tournament even though he was two years younger than most competitors. And it wouldn’t be completely unfair to give him the MVP award in the end.. There is a lot to like in Wembanyama but the most scary thing is that he can still improve in all areas. Victor is really fluid in his movements for a player his size but will slowly need to add some “meat to his bones”. Has no problem creating separation for a shot and because of his size & length advantages, his shots are hardly contested. Even against taller opponents on a higher level his shots won’t be contested or blocked so easily. His shooting percentages on 3pt shots weren’t the best at this tournament but has shown that he has the NBA range already and capable of making shots way behind the (FIBA) three point line. In defense, no shot is left uncontested when he is around the rim. Averaged 5.7 (!!) blocks in the tournament and had three games with 8 blocks. Usually making more interceptions and deflections than he was doing in this tournament and his steal numbers are normally higher. If he stays healthy and develops his game & body in the right direction.. sky’s the limit.

The youngest player on this list and I dare to say it, that he is the player with the highest upside/potential. Unique talent and skill set. Amazing length that can make an impact on the game on so many levels. Uses his long limbs in contesting shots around the rim and on perimeter, disrupts plays, makes steals.. His instincts on the defensive end are really elite level and if the body fills out as it should over the years, he will be a scary defender even on NBA level. But his game doesn’t end in defense, his offensive game is also unique and hasn’t been seen by many players. Can handle the ball as a point guard, fluid and advanced ball handling moves and can keep the dribbles low. With his coordination and footwork, he is capable of creating space for shot with step backs or side steps and makes them with good percentages for his age. In some games he also showed that he is capable of running off screens and being used as a catch & shoot shooter. Not a fully polished prospect but his tools are on another level and just scary to think how good he can be when he develops fully – body and technique wise.  

Victor Wembanyama (’04), Nanterre 92, 7’2’’, C

15.8pts, 2FG-55.6%, 3FG- 20%, FT-82.4%, 12rebs, 0.8ast, 2.8stl, 3to, 6blks

One of the most intriguing prospects in Europe right now, not only because of sheer size but also because of a mind-boggling mixture of agility and quickness combined with a solid vision, decent mid-range shot and steadily growing confidence from behind the arc. Looked bolder on his attempts from the mid-range distance on this occasion, presenting a lot of turn-around jumpers, one-legged fadeaways and spot-ups. Didn’t have much luck from behind the arc only converting 20% (3/15) of his shots but can’t see why this number shouldn’t increase in the future as he already has a steady hand from the FT line, stroke looks good and was converting from the mid-range regularly. A nightmare to defend at this level, hard to contest because of very high release point, but also tough to stop on the way to the basket when cuts or tries to crash the boards.

Defensively showed very good awareness, not only when putting a lid on the basket and beating the all-time AdidasNGT record for the most blocks in the single game (9), but also in the passing lanes sticking his hands in the lanes and deflecting anything that dared to fly through his zone. Had some trouble physically, boxing out opponents and getting to position back to the basket which is understandable at this moment.

The big questions remain the same – How will his body change in the next few years? How much growing he has left? And how much muscle will he be able to put on his frame? Really looking forward to following closely his development in the future.

Throughout the whole event none of the opposing teams could match or even get close to their exceptional length mainly thanks to 7’2” Victor Wembanyama, who’s jaw dropping physical profile can’t go unnoticed. Year younger than the rest of the competition, was one of the two 2004-born players recognized with the All-Star Five honours and finished the event with averages of 9pts, 9.6reb, 1.4ast, 2.1to and 5.3stl.

With his enormous reach&wingspan, nice mobility for his size/age, great timing and good awareness Victor was a defensive anchor for the team, meeting all the opponents who dared to penetrate inside with his exceptional shot blocking abilities and forcing them out of their usual comfort zone by taking a higher arc on their attempts. Finishing inside and rebounding were other great aspects of his game thanks to his physical profile. Simply being able to grab boards high out of the reach of an average player, finishing inside with his quick hands and even catching bad passes on cuts /plays under the basket made him a bit unpredictable and hard to defend. On top of that, Victor has already shown glimpses of a mid-range/outside game, confidently taking shots, given the opportunity, playing sometimes off the dribble and even passing from the high post or top of the key to cutters with nice timing.

His enormous skinny body is also a downside to his game, with a question of how much muscle will he be able to stack up on his very narrow frame. At the moment he lacks physical stretch, loses positions and is not always able to hold his ground because of the high centre of gravity and gets pushed out the way. Nonetheless, all these factors put together make him a very unique prospect that is a must to follow.

VICTOR WEMBANYAMA (CENTER, FRANCE, 2004) 4pts, 3rebs

At first impression Victor Wembanyama looks every bit of a unicorn. 7 foot tall, baby faced, mobile with cosmic length, ball skills and sweet shooting touch. He is still extremely thin, operates at completely different gravity center than his peers and gets overpowered by smaller and stronger players. Sooner or later physicality will come but he seems to avoid contact too much so mental sphere will be even more important moving forward. What concerns for now is paradoxically…size. There is a possibility that Victor can grow even too tall which is not always obvious advantage nowadays at some point. Also tall people tend to have slower reflexes because of longer nerves that taper and Victor’s reactivity is a little lagged at the moment.

„La French freak” was probably first reknown 2004 born prospect in Europe. However I don’t think early stardom, being featured in various outlets or general curiosity about his future can help the kid. No matter how tantalizing he is, he is just the fantasy for now and has long way to go. Wembanyama couldn’t produce much in the game but seeing his body and in how early development stage it is plus few glimpses of Forward skillset here and there make talent evaluators realize that they are dealing with the phenom.