Victor Wembanyama has evidently improved major aspects of his game, and a first-time All-Star selection beckons the center this season. However, his shot selection has made Klay Thompson’s father Mychal wonder whether the San Antonio Spurs are using the Frenchman the right way on the offensive end of the floor.
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It is definitely not easy to defend against a player of Wemby’s physical stature. However, Mychal said that the way the center happily shoots from beyond the arc makes it easy to stop him.
“If I was playing against him today, I’d be so happy he’s taking threes… He’s out there shooting like he’s Kyle Korver,” Mychal said on SiriusXM NBA Radio.
Mychal, a two-time champion, didn’t understand why the Spurs are reluctant to use the 7 ft 4″ Wemby “closer to the basket”.
“When he gets into the basket, he’s so long and athletic and gifted, there’s nothing you can do with him…
“I don’t know why the Spurs don’t play him closer to the basket, get him on the move, in the paint, so he can just catch, turn around, and shoot. It’s like he’s shooting against kids within six, seven, eight feet of the basket. No one can even bother his shot,” added the former Laker.
Is Victor Wembanyama taking too many threes?@champagnennuts tells @Jumpshot8 and @DarthAmin Wemby needs to use his size at the rim. pic.twitter.com/XYHCgMZh9W
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) December 20, 2024
Out of the 383 field goal attempts Wembanyama has made so far this season, 186 have been from beyond the three-point arc. He has only 109 attempts from within five feet of the basket, and just 23 from the 5-to-9-foot range.
The French star has a release point exceeding 9 feet, making it nearly impossible for opponents to disrupt his shot. He could dominate easily in the paint, score more effectively, and draw more fouls too.
He converts an impressive 74.3% of attempts within five feet, compared to just 33.3% from the three-point range. This difference in efficiency also highlights the benefits of increasing his attempts from near the basket.
While there is merit in Mychal’s argument, Gregg Popovich seems to be keen on using his star for three-pointers.
Wembanyama has been asked to shoot more threes
During his rookie season (2023-24), Wembanyama showcased his long-range shooting skills. But he attempted more shots from within the perimeter. This shift in his approach now is because of Popovich’s advice.
“Absolutely, he is more of a perimeter player than he is a post player. We want him to be able to do everything. Isolate, shoot, do the whole deal. We just can’t do it all at once,” Popovich had said.
Wembanyama is a classic example of a modern big man, excelling across multiple aspects of the game — shooting, dribbling, passing, defending, and rebounding, His versatility accords him larger impact.
However, we will have to wait and watch if the emphasis on three pointers works out for him in the long run. Meanwhile, the Spurs are set to play back-to-back games at home against the 76ers on Monday evening (8 pm ET) and on Christmas day (1 pm ET). Fans can catch all the action LIVE on NBA TV, NBCS-PH, FDSSW and Fubo.
