Six games into his first NBA season, Victor Wembayama is fulfilling the expectations of a No. 1 overall draft pick. The rookie is quickly providing multiple highlight plays in each game with ballhandling, movement, shooting touch, and playmaking that hasn’t been seen by someone his size (7’4”).
Sunday’s matchup between the Spurs and Raptors produced the latest dazzling moment from Wembayama showing how difficult–if not impossible–it is to shoot over his eight-foot wingspan.
During the third quarter, Toronto’s OG Anunoby spotted up for a three-point attempt from the corner. It looked like a wide-open shooting opportunity, but Wembanayama’s long arms and foot speed allow him to close in on any shot very quickly.
NBA fans couldn’t believe what they were seeing either.
lol aim for the ceiling lol
— BiggBreeze (@BigBreezy29) November 5, 2023
The extension is so wild
— Jimisola Falaja (@Falajamusic) November 5, 2023
Players will need time to get used to that reach just like when Shaq came into the league, players had to adjust to his power, which never happened
— Alexander G. Yang (@JudoboyAlex) November 5, 2023
Cheat code guarding the paint and corner 3 on D every possession
Also attracting attention from multiple defenders on offense creating easy looks for the team
— TradingforFreedom (@AlwaysSFG) November 5, 2023
A shooter cannot put enough arc on his shot to avoid Wembanyama’s fingertips. Anunoby is no small guard either. He’s a 6’7” forward.
Coaches have tried to simulate Wembayama’s length in practice. Extensions and pads might help a bit, but there’s no substitute for the real thing. The rookie sensation is simply unlike anything the NBA has seen.