6 Big takeaways for Victor Wembanyama’s first dozen games as a Spur

Takeaway #5: Wembanyama could eventually live at the free-throw line.

While Wembanyama has been inconsistent offensively, one constant has been his ability to draw free throws and hit a respectable 77.1% of his attempts. Considering how many big men tend to struggle with free throws, his being over 75% is an encouraging sign.

Especially since free-throw shooting also generally correlates to 3-point shooting. Bad foul shooters tend to be bad 3-point shooters, and while he is currently shooting less than 30% from beyond the arc, it is a sign that he will eventually be a high-percentage shooter.

One reason why he earns so many trips to the line is, ironically, because of his thin frame. While he has trouble establishing position in the post, when he does get the ball in the paint, even the slightest bump from a stronger player tends to knock him off balance. Teams are also worried about the lob threat, and they try to keep a player in front of him and box him out when other Spurs have the ball.

Opponents will often foul him when he goes for a lob or when the shot goes up. Especially since his height and length allow him to fight for the offensive rebound, teams tend to get called for loose ball fouls against him.

Once the Spurs figure out how to get him the ball in the right spots more consistently, he could live at the line, and unlike the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo, he can actually make teams pay. Wembanyama has been a major plus on the defensive end, which was obviously the hope given his height and length and the Spurs’ struggles on that end last season.