There is a perception around the league that draft prospect Victor Wembanyama will be the NBA’s next all-time great player. An NBA executive told Kevin O’Connor of the Ringer in October of 2022 that Wembanyama’s skill set would change the whole league.
The strength issue with Victor Wembanyama
Although the NBA executive’s assessment may be correct, it should take Wembanyama a few seasons to reach those expectations due to his body composition. Victor Wembanyama has a lean body frame, currently at 7 ‘2″ and weighing 233 pounds.
Victor Wembanyama’s struggles in the post
Wembanyama’s current frame allows defenders to shut him down with any physical contact. For example, Wembanyama decided to establish post position on the left block with around 5 minutes left in the first quarter against Dijon in mid-January.
Wembanyama requested the ball upon establishing post position as he looked to exploit his size advantage over Dijon forward Jacques Alingue, who is currently listed at 6 ‘7″ and weighs 215 pounds. Wembanyama’s request was granted as Tremont Waters passed him the ball.
Once Wembanyama received the ball, he attempted to back Alingue down by driving his right shoulder into him. Unfortunately, Wembanyama’s approach didn’t work as he could not move Alingue off his spot. Wembanyama’s repeated attempts to back down culminated in a turnover.
Victor Wembanyama’s struggles on the perimeter
Wembanyama’s inability to deal with contact is also present when he has the ball on the perimeter. For example, Victor Wembanyama was being guarded by Charles Kahudi, who plays for ASVEL in the LNB Pro A league. Kahudi is a 6’5 “- 6’7” forward currently listed at 220 pounds.
Consequently, Victor Wembanyama’s teammate Lahaou Konaté passed him the ball, hoping he would take advantage of the size mismatch. Upon receiving the basketball near the top of the key, Wembanyama went to the left to get past Kahudi. Unfortunately, Kahudi shuffled his feet to the right causing Wembanyama’s right shoulder to collide with Kahudi’s chest.
The contact caused Wembanyama to his balance resulting in a turnover. A hypothetical solution to Wembanyama’s strength issue would be to use him as a floor spacer until he gains more muscle. Unfortunately, he has been a below-average shooter from behind the arc during his career overseas, shooting 30 % on 3 attempts per game.
Victor Wembanyama needs to gain weight slowly
Therefore, it will be hard for him to dominate early in his career as he needs to be inside the arc, increasing the likelihood of contact. Contact is going to be a problem for him until he learns how to properly add muscle to his frame. According to NBA players, the best way to add muscle is slowly over time to give the body time to acclimate the muscle.
For example, Porzings decided to add 12 pounds of muscle after his rookie season when he weighed 223 pounds. Porzingis admitted adding that amount of muscle in 3-5 months was a mistake because he felt uncomfortable with added weight. He decided to lose some muscle to feel comfortable temporarily, but it wasn’t the last time Kristaps would add muscle to his frame.
Kristaps decided to add 16-17 pounds of muscle during his year-long ACL injury rehab. His decision gave him more time to get used to the added weight.Porzings has kept the weight on the second time.
However, Porzingis isn’t the only player to successfully add a significant amount of muscle over a long time. Giannis Antetokounmpo entered the league in 2013, weighing 196 pounds. Over the next 18 months, the Milwaukee Bucks helped him to add 26 pounds of lean muscle.
How an NBA team should use Victor Wembanyama
If an NBA team wants Victor Wembanyama to have moments of success over the next few seasons, they should use him as a screener in the pick and roll. The screener role would give him more open shots as the big-man defender will dictate his next move.
If the big man decides to pay attention to the ball handler, Victor Wembanyama will have an open lane to roll to the basket for an easy shot. On the other hand, if the big man defender stays close to the basket, Victor Wembanyama can pop off the screen for an open mid-range jumper.
The screener role will reduce the contact absorbed during his development process. In conclusion, it should take a few years before Victor Wembanyama becomes a superstar because of his body composition.
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