Simply how good will Victor Wembanyama be this season?

By the center of final season, it was apparent the query was when, not if:

How lengthy earlier than Victor Wembanyama is the perfect participant on the planet?

5 years? Three years? Discussing it with individuals across the league, there have been some who stated subsequent yr, and whereas they might have been within the minority they weren’t laughed out of the room.

He might not be the perfect participant within the league simply but, however what ought to we anticipate from Victor Wembanyama in his second season? And simply how excessive do you have to take him in your fantasy draft?

Recapping Wembanyama’s rookie yr

As a refresher, as a 20-year-old rookie, the 7’4″ heart out of France averaged 21.4 factors and 10.6 rebounds a recreation, shot 32.5% from 3 (on 5.5 makes an attempt a recreation), but he was a extra impactful drive on the defensive finish of the courtroom the place averaged 3.6 blocked photographs a recreation.

Wembanyama was the unanimous Rookie Of the 12 months plus completed second in Defensive Participant of the 12 months voting.

Then he regarded even higher through the Paris Olympics.

Wembanyama not solely confirmed development in his recreation between the tip of the season and the Olympics tipping-off in France, however he additionally confirmed enchancment and a rising maturity in his recreation through the Olympics. In the long run, he was pushing the best gamers of an American era (akin to LeBron James and Kevin Durant) and it required Stephen Curry taking on late to beat him and the French group.

After incomes a silver medal, Wembanyama issued a warning:

“I am studying, and I am fearful for the opponents in a few years.”

Did he imply FIBA opponents or the NBA?

“All over the place.”

How good will Wembanyama be this season?

We all know Wembanyama will convey an improved recreation to the courtroom this season, however extra importantly he could have a bit extra veteran expertise round him to set him up. Final season, the Spurs had been the youngest group within the league, and that inexperience confirmed. This time round, issues are totally different.

Chris Paul — the perfect flooring basic level guard of a era — is now orchestrating the assault, which implies Wembanyama will get the ball in higher positions to attain. Harrison Barnes is a rock-solid, floor-spacing 4 to go subsequent to Wembanyama. The Spurs are simply higher round him, which can open issues up for Wembanyama in his second season — he could not rating much more in uncooked counting stats, however he must be extra environment friendly.

Let’s break it down by award:

Will he be an All-Star? That looks like a given, would not it? Wembanyama will make his first All-Star Sport.

The higher query is, will he be a starter? That is a a lot harder process solely due to the depth of the Western Convention: LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Nikola Jokic had been the frontcourt starters a yr in the past, and all are again. The West additionally has Anthony Davis, who was one in all Crew USA’s finest 4 gamers (not less than) through the Paris Olympics, plus could have the huge Lakers’ nation fan vote behind him. Barring damage, it is a huge ask for Wembanyama to be voted in a starter forward of a type of guys.

It is also doable.

Will he make All-NBA? This additionally feels doubtless. Do not forget that the All-NBA vote is not by place, it’s simply the 15 finest gamers within the league over the course of the season. Wembanyama completed twentieth in voting a season in the past and may leap into the highest 15 this season.

Will he win Defensive Participant of the 12 months? Wembanyama is the favourite to take dwelling the {hardware}. Do not take my phrase for it, he’s the heavy betting favourite. Wembanyama is at the moment -180 at our companion DraftKings, with second place being Rudy Gobert at +1100, adopted by Bay Adebayo at +1200. Wembanyama was second in DPOY voting a yr in the past and may take a step ahead, particularly contemplating the improved expertise round him.

Will he win MVP? Let’s not get carried away. Wembanyama very doubtless has MVPs in his future, however that award goes not solely to an elite private performer — which he can be — but in addition somebody who lifts his group as much as a top-three (or not less than top-six) end. That is not occurring, the Spurs are improved and will make the play-in, however is not going to end in a spot to win Wembanyama the award.

Might he end within the high 5 in MVP voting? It is doable, unlikely contemplating the depth of competitors, however doable. Our companions at DraftKings have him ninth in MVP odds, which appears about proper.

Wembanyama fantasy outlook

That is courtesy of Raphielle Johnson of NBC Sports, who checked out how huge a leap Wembanyama could make this season.

When an athlete arrives on the professional sports activities scene with the hype that Wembanyama acquired, it feels much more doubtless that they may fail to succeed in stated heights. His rookie marketing campaign didn’t disappoint, with the Spurs starting Wemby with the “coaching wheels” beginning him alongside one other huge in Zach Collins. Given his lithe body, the considering was that Collins would act as a buffer for the bodily play Wembanyama was prone to take care of. The one difficulty for him early on was a sprained ankle suffered simply earlier than Christmas, because the Spurs restricted the rookie phenom’s minutes till mid-January.

Wembanyama went on to win Rookie of the 12 months and completed second in Defensive Participant of the 12 months voting behind fellow countryman Rudy Gobert. Add in what he did through the Paris Olympics, and there seems to be a persistent feeling of, “I hope you guys had your enjoyable as a result of the longer term is mine.”
Pretty much as good as Wembanyama was as a rookie, that is thrilling (for followers, the Spurs, and fantasy managers who’ve him rostered) and terrifying (for opponents and people who haven’t got Wemby rostered) on the identical time. I do not know what his actual numbers will seem like, however I am banking on the addition of Chris Paul to assist make issues simpler for Wembanyama relating to the place he will get the ball offensively and the way a lot work he has to do to attain. Defensively, having a season’s price of references to be taught from may propel him to 4 blocks per recreation, minimal (he averaged 3.6 final season).

He is the unquestioned high choose in dynasty leagues, and in redrafts, Wembanyama is on a really brief checklist of choices for that spot. So long as he stays wholesome, the sky is the restrict for the Spurs sensation. I anticipate him to win Defensive Participant of the 12 months this season. As for Most Useful Participant, that award tends to favor gamers whose groups are bonafide contenders. I am unsure San Antonio will attain these heights in 2024-25, however he’ll get his palms on that trophy quickly sufficient.