Victor Wembanyama is making the kind of leap that doesn’t always jump off the screen at first glance. The flashy stuff is still there, of course. But the biggest change in his game this season is rooted in the same old-school principles that defined Tim Duncan: patience, clean decisions, and doing the simple things right.
That matters because Wembanyama didn’t arrive as some unfinished project. He was already a Defensive Player of the Year and a top-three MVP finisher last season. What the Spurs have gotten this year is not a total overhaul, but a sharper version of a star who only needed a few precise adjustments to unlock another level.
Wembanyama put it plainly after the Spurs’ 122-96 win over Phoenix: "It’s mostly decision-making, really. I’m not doing anything that I was not physically able to do 12 months ago."
That line fits the way he’s playing now. Duncan built a Hall of Fame career by taking what defenses gave him and repeating the right play until opponents had no answer left. Wembanyama has the size and skill to produce highlights on command, but what stands out now is how often he’s choosing the correct option instead of the spectacular one.
A big part of that shows up in the screen game. According to NBA.com, Wembanyama is averaging 1.8 screen assists per game, which ranks 48th in the league.
That’s up from 1.4 last season, when he didn’t even crack the top 75. Last year, he too often rushed through picks, slipped them early, or popped out before the action could fully develop.
Now he’s setting the screen, making contact, and letting the play breathe.
That patience changes everything around him. When Wembanyama holds his ground and does his job as a screener, the defense has to react.
Help defenders step up. Driving lanes open.
The Spurs’ ball handlers get cleaner paths to the rim, and shooters get better looks when the defense collapses. His own chances at the basket improve too, which is part of why his dunk numbers have taken off.
The same thing is happening with his shot selection. Wembanyama is not forcing the issue the way he sometimes did before.
If he sees a mismatch, he goes after it. That approach has helped him get to the line more often, with his free throw attempts rising to eight per game from seven last season.
His midrange work has changed as well. Last season, a lot of those looks came off the dribble. This year, he’s taking the open pull-up when it’s there instead of trying to create something tougher by forcing his way into the paint or working into a more difficult jumper.
There’s also been a cleaner structure to his game, and that has helped cut down on mistakes. Wembanyama is down to 2.0 turnovers per game from 2.4 last season, which is a small shift on paper. But with the offense running through him more than ever, that drop stands out.
Duncan never needed flash to control a game. Fundamentals and instinct were enough. Wembanyama seems to be learning the same lesson, and the Spurs are reaping the benefits.
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