Wemby’s biggest weakness was on full display Friday.
On Friday, Team France and San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama faced a tough loss to Germany, 85-71. This defeat marked their first in the Olympic group phase, resulting in a 2-1 record.
Although France will advance to the knockout round, their confidence has taken a hit. Despite Germany’s status as 2023 FIBA World Cup champions, this was a challenging end to group play for the French national team.
During the 14-point loss, France appeared disjointed and uncomfortable offensively, starting with Victor Wembanyama. Statistically, he had one of the best performances among French players, but his gameplay revealed a significant area for improvement.
Wembanyama finished the game with a team-high 14 points and 12 rebounds, but he could have contributed even more had he better established his presence in the interior. The German big men routinely pushed him out to the perimeter, limiting his effectiveness.
Wembanyama Needs to Establish Inside Dominance
When he did find space to operate inside, Wembanyama struggled against the physicality imposed by the German team. This is arguably the most critical area Victor needs to focus on as he hones his skills.
At 7-foot-4, Wemby is almost always the tallest player on the floor. While he is incredibly skilled and versatile, he must learn to leverage his height against smaller defenders and dominate inside.
In one notable moment during Friday’s game, Franz Wagner executed a jaw-dropping dunk over Victor on a fast break. While Wemby is not expected to block every shot, this instance highlighted his tendency to play down to smaller competition rather than using his size to his advantage.
Addressing this issue will benefit Wembanyama both at the Olympics and in the NBA. His potential is already considered otherworldly, and his ceiling can be even higher if he fully capitalizes on his physical gifts.
Leave a Reply