3 ways Victor Wembanyama will transform the San Antonio Spurs

Victor Wembanyama can transform the San Antonio Spurs’ rim defense.

Teams that are as bad as the Spurs tend to have numerous issues that contributed to their poor performance. One of their problem areas was rim protection. In addition to ranking 28th in blocks per 100 possessions, they also allowed the fourth-most attempts inside the restricted area per game.

The lack of blocks and the abundance of opponent shots under the rim denotes a lack of fear for the Spurs’ big men. The 7-foot-2 Wembanyama could change that, if this scouting report is any indication:

"[Wembanyama’s] impact on the defensive end alone would make him one of the best prospects in recent memory as he displayed at the FIBA U19 World Cup where he averaged 5.7 blocks per game… 5.7! With a wingspan as long as the lines to get into the Louvre on a summer day, Wembanyama single-handedly altered or destroyed opponents games plans and strategies. Wembanyama’s block parties aren’t just at the rim, he’s blocking floaters, runners and hooks. He was so dominant at the rim, a few possessions it looks as if the game plan was to take him out the paint to make him defend in space…  And it didnt work. His agility, fluidity and mobility allows him to defend small guards and he uses his ridiculous 7’8 wing span to smother ball handlers who have the audacity to attack him off the dribble."

Of course, it will take some time for Wembanyama to acclimate to the physicality of the NBA, but even if you have the most conservative projection of how he performs as a rookie, it’s hard to imagine him allowing more easy shots than the 2022-23 Spurs bigs.