Victor Wembanyama’s stardom and the panache with which he is carrying the San Antonio Spurs make it easy to forget that it’s just his third year in the NBA. On closer scrutiny, it becomes apparent that there are aspects to his game that could improve.
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Currently, the Spurs sit second in the Western Conference standings with a 29-13 record. And Wemby has been instrumental to the Spurs’ resurgence.
If the French star’s shortcomings are taken care of, he could be unstoppable. Gilbert Arenas recently noted that Wembanyama is learning and adjusting to the NBA in real time. It’s a sign that he’s on his way to the top.
One of the areas where Arenas believes Wembanyama can improve the most is scoring without dribbling the ball. While attacking off the bounce is one of his strengths, the Frenchman often charges, dribbles, and finishes at the rim with ease whenever he gets the ball.
“Wemby is learning in real time, adjusting in real time. If he is starting to play the game without putting the ball on the floor, the chances of them getting to the WCF is gonna be heightened,” Arenas said in a recent episode of No Chill Gill.
Even though San Antonio is a favorite right now to finish in the No.2 spot in the West, simply reaching the playoffs does not guarantee a trip to the Conference Finals. That’s when a much more well-rounded Wemby could make an impact.
“I’m sorry. Defensively, 7 game series, him dominating, controlling the game, that gives them a chance. If he starts getting buckets without wasting energy, good luck!” Arenas added.
Gilbert Arenas believes if Victor Wembanyama can learn to score without dribbling, the Spurs can make the WCF
“Wemby is learning in real time, adjusting in real time. If he is starting to play the game without putting the ball on the floor, the chances of them getting to the… pic.twitter.com/9uiObTOqYT
— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) January 19, 2026
Wembanyama is having a career-best season so far, averaging 24 points and 11 rebounds per game. The question remains whether he can replicate that production in what would be his first-ever playoff appearance.
If Wembanyama can sustain this level of output and continue to improve in the areas Arenas highlighted, the Spurs could legitimately be one of the favorites to reach, or even win, the Western Conference Finals. With other high-level contributors like De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle alongside him, it’s hard not to count them as legit championship contenders.
