December was quite the month for San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama. He averaged an eye-popping 28.5 points, 10 rebounds, 4.4 blocks, and 4.8 assists while shooting 37.7% from three, proving that he is rapidly emerging as a superstar before our eyes.
Even so, there is plenty of room for improvement in his game, including in one surprising area. Despite playing center, Wembanyama often struggles to set hard screens to create separation for his teammates.
Here are three such examples—at 0:22, 2:00, and 2:10—where Wembanyama could have set better screens. The first one saw OG Anunoby push Wembanyama backwards when fighting over the screen. However, that could possibly be chalked up to Wembanyama trying to slip the screen. The second and third ones weren't particularly well set even though he scored on all three possessions.
Wembanyama's issues with settings screens are fixable, but that's probably why he and future Hall of Famer Chris Paul haven't been the prolific pick-and-roll pairing that everyone thought they would be. To their credit, they have become a deadly pick-and-pop pairing with Wembanyama able to hit threes from well beyond the top of the arc.
Still, his being able to brick wall opposing guards who try to fight their way around screens would allow Paul to more easily get into the paint. In turn, that would force Wembanyama's defender to slide over and cut off a drive or, more likely, a Paul pullup jumper and give Wembanyama a runway to sprint to the rim.
San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama can reach another level by solving a simple flaw in his game.
Some of the Wembanyama problem-setting screens will dissipate if he continues to put on weight and muscle and as he balances whether to actually set a pick or to slip it to get open for a three. Being able to set more physical screens would allow him to better free up his teammates, allowing them to gain an advantage. He can also stand to learn more tricks of the trade, either from Paul or even from Spurs legend Tim Duncan, who was one of the best screensetters in NBA history.
Duncan would often take a wider stance when setting screens, forcing the defender to take another step and making it that much harder for them to catch up to their defensive assignment. He would then simply run to the rim while the opposing big man was left to try and contain the ball handler.
If Wembanyama can set harder or better picks, then it would put more pressure on defenses and free him up for easier shots in the paint. Wembanyama is now shooting above league average from three on 9.4 3-point attempts per game and 87% from the free throw line.
He is well ahead of schedule as a shooter. However, figuring out ways to get him more shots in the paint and also more trips to the free throw line is key to fully unlocking that potential. That starts with him setting better screens.