The Victor Wembanyama prelude experience began in the form of the NBA Summer League. But two games later, the soft opening to the Wemby show might be coming to a close in preparation for the world premiere.
Sources told ESPN that the San Antonio Spurs have decided to let their No. 1 pick sit out the rest of the competition in preparation for the NBA season. A good call by the team in terms of safety. We have seen the Summer League and other off-season tournaments cause long-term injuries to promising prospects.
Last summer, Oklahoma Cityβs Chet Holmgren got hurt in the CrawsOver Pro-Am event and missed his entire first season in the NBA. This year, Wembanyamaβs draft classmates and fellow first-rounders Scoot Henderson and Amen Thompson have already suffered their tweaks early into the tournament.
Although it was short-lived, Wembanyamaβs two-game stint was very telling of what we can expect from the 19-year-old phenom.
Wembanyamaβs Summer League games were perfect
Iβm not talking about results and stats. Situationally, it could not have been better for someone with a massive chip on his shoulder. Tall as he is, the expectations for Wembanyama are much higher.
His blunder of a first game was a letdown to most, but it did one thing that could help him in the long runβ remind people that heβs human, a very young and talented one, but human. One that admittedly felt lost on his first shift.
He took the 2-13 shooting performance in a winning effort against Charlotte and bounced back with a double-double (27 points and 12 rebounds) in a loss to Portland. Night and day in a span of two games. The nervous rookie and the dominant first-pick. For what itβs worth; he will start the season on a good note with his performance on Sunday.
Early predictions for Wembanyamaβs rookie season
It is definitely early to tell, but based on what we have seen so far, Wembanyama probably wonβt be as dominant as some expect for his first season. He will have games when he plays well and other games when heβs off. We will see him catch fire against feasible competition and get bodied by the larger and stronger elite NBA big men.
He might not even win Rookie of the Yearβemphasis on mightβ and I have no worries about that. Scoot Henderson and Brandon Miller may be the front runners. But itβs not how you start but how you finish. Wembanyamaβs potential is at an all-time high, the Spursβ system is proven effective, and his humility and talent will take him a long way.
Take this withdrawal from the summer league as a sign of great things to come. He is a great talent surrounded by the right people.
- Published on 07/10/2023 at 22:00 PM
- Last updated at 07/10/2023 at 22:00 PM
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Author: Leocciano Callao
July 10, 2023 | 6:00 pm