Kevin Durant knows a thing or two about being a basketball anomaly. At nearly seven feet tall with guard-like handles and a pure jumper, he’s redefined what it means to be a scoring forward in the NBA. So when he was asked about Victor Wembanyama after the Rockets’ win over the Spurs, you'd expect a little more appreciation for what the 7'5" phenom brings to the table.
Instead, Durant’s assessment of Wemby was surprisingly narrow. “He’s still working on his jump shot,” Durant said.
“He’s more scary when he’s inside the paint getting layups and dunks-that’s more of his game than shooting jump shots. When they go in, it looks amazing, but when you put a hand up…”
That’s a curious take coming from someone who’s built a Hall of Fame career on being unguardable from anywhere on the floor. And it raises a fair question: if Durant has an off night from the perimeter, do we suddenly decide he should ditch the jumper and stick to layups? Probably not.
So why hold Wembanyama to that standard?
Let’s be clear-Victor didn’t have a great night. He struggled to find rhythm, especially in the second half, going just 1-of-11.
He finished with zero blocks, found himself in foul trouble, and couldn’t get anything to fall late. But that’s not a sign he should abandon the perimeter game.
That’s a sign of a young player grinding through the rigors of an NBA season-on the second night of a back-to-back, no less.
When you go back and watch the tape, it’s not like Houston completely shut him down with some magical defensive scheme. There were open looks.
There were missed opportunities at the rim. And yes, there were moments where he could’ve been more aggressive.
But that’s not unusual for a player carrying as much weight as Wembanyama does for San Antonio. Fatigue is a real factor, especially for a 7'5" athlete still adjusting to the NBA grind.
And let’s not ignore the context here: Wemby’s been ramping back up after limited minutes in recent weeks. He’s played 30 or more minutes just once in the past month. Expecting him to dominate in back-to-back games, especially after a heavy workload against Utah the night before, is asking a lot.
Now throw in the officiating. The Spurs were clearly on the wrong end of the whistle.
The Rockets shot 10 free throws in the second half compared to just one for San Antonio. That’s not just a bad break-that’s a momentum killer.
The broadcast showed multiple missed calls, including obvious contact on Wembanyama that went uncalled. When you’re not getting those whistles, especially as a big, it changes how you attack the game.
Durant’s comment about “just putting a hand up” might work against most players. But Wembanyama isn’t most players.
With an 8-foot wingspan and a high release point, he shoots over defenders like they’re not even there. When he’s on, it doesn’t matter how close you are-he’s getting that shot off clean.
And here’s the kicker: Wemby’s not just launching threes for fun. He’s hitting them.
The 7'5" 22-year-old is shooting 38% from deep this season. That’s not just respectable-it’s elite for a player his size.
For comparison? Durant shot 36.5% from three in his third year.
Imagine if someone told KD back then to stop shooting and just stick to dunks. It would’ve been laughable.
Victor Wembanyama is still developing, no doubt. He’s going to have off nights.
But those nights don’t define what kind of player he is-or what kind of player he’s becoming. The beauty of Wemby’s game is that he doesn’t fit into one box.
He’s a rim protector, a lob threat, a shooter, a playmaker. He’s not just a center.
He’s not just a shooter. He’s a new kind of superstar.
And if anything, a rough night like this one is just part of the journey. The Rockets played well, the refs didn’t help, and Wemby looked like a guy still building up his legs.
But don’t mistake a cold shooting night for a flaw in his game. He’s not broken.
He’s just human.
Even aliens need rest.