Victor Wembanyama already bends an NBA defense in ways most players never can. The question now is whether he can add one more layer to his game that helps him stay on the floor longer.
The push is simple: make the midrange a real weapon.
That shot has largely vanished from today’s league, squeezed out by the 3-pointer and the rim attempt. But for Wembanyama, the “in-between” game could do more than fill out his offensive profile. It could ease some of the physical load that comes with living at the rim and launching from deep.
“He needs to develop in a way that allows his body to adapt over time to being less resilient and therefore making the game more efficient,” said The Athletic's Jared Weiss. "And just the way that he moves the floor, having that turnaround jumper, no matter where he is, should be a thing for him.
He can take a shot from within 15 feet without leaving his feet that he can just take a free throw from anywhere that he wants. He just needs to figure out how to get to that."
Wembanyama has already shown how dangerous he is at both extremes. Last season, he shot 34.9 percent from 3-point range and 67.1 percent at the rim, which worked out to 1.04 and 1.34 points per attempt. He’s the kind of player who can score from behind the arc, at the basket, and just about anywhere in between.
But the middle of the floor hasn’t been nearly as kind. Over his career, he’s at 37.8 percent from midrange, a number that translates to 0.75 points per attempt. A lot of those looks have come off balance or from the baseline, so there’s room for the shot chart to look cleaner and the results to improve if he starts choosing those attempts more deliberately.
The physical stakes matter here, too. Wembanyama has played 71, 46, and 64 games in his three seasons.
His sophomore year ended because of blood clots rather than injury, and the NBA Cup helped him technically reach the 65-game threshold last season. Even so, he’s not being penciled in as a player who will simply make 70 games a yearly standard.
That’s why the midrange matters beyond aesthetics. If Wembanyama can turn that part of the floor into a dependable option, the Spurs may get a version of him that is both more efficient and easier to preserve.
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There is also a more immediate reason for patience in San Antonio. Mitch Johnson addressed rookie Jayden Quaintances recovery from meniscus surgery, and the teams plan is to be careful rather than push for a quick return, which leaves another development track moving at its own pace. Meanwhile, Wembanyama spoke about how difficult the aftermath of the Spurs NBA Finals loss was emotionally, even as he said he has responded by training more, and Tobias Harris sounded eager to join in by embracing whatever role is needed. [Read more 🡒]