Despite having only played two NBA Summer League games, NBA oddsmakers have seen enough from potential superstar Victor Wembanyama. Wembanyama, who was selected first overall by the San Antonio Spurs, is already on the shortlist for two major NBA awards.
Currently, he holds the sixth highest odds to win Defensive Player of the Year, according to Betonline.ag, even though he has never played an NBA game. That may seem too high, but Wembanyama is expected to be a defensive force from day one, and he showed why during his brief Summer League performance.
At 7’5, he tallied an impressive 8 blocks in 54 total minutes, and that could be a sign of things to come. Playing for Met 92 last season, he showed the ability to defend out on the perimeter and keep guards in front of him, making it nearly impossible for them to create separation, often leading to him blocking jump shots.
Victor Wembanyama has a chance to win two major awards as a rookie.
Although he will play power forward In San Antonio, expect him to still spend plenty of time near the paint, where he can have a huge defensive impact. Wembanyama is reported to have an 8’0 arm span, the third longest in NBA history, and that length, in combination with his sheer size and mobility, could make him Rudy Gobert 2.0.
Unlike Gobert, however, Wembanyama possesses significant offensive upside that should help him win Rookie of the Year, and he is favored to do so. He is already projected to put up huge numbers for the Spurs next season, and his performance against the G League Ignite and, in the Summer League, further shows that he will be the frontrunner.
Even still, he will face tough competition for Rookie of the Year honors. Whether Wembanyama manages to win Defensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year will largely depend on his health. Assuming he lives up to those projections, the number of games played will go a long way toward determining if he will be the first player ever to win two major awards as a rookie.
- Published on 07/13/2023 at 19:00 PM
- Last updated at 07/13/2023 at 19:00 PM
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Author: Cal Durrett
July 13, 2023 | 3:00 pm
