Lost in all of the rumors surrounding the San Antonio Spurs is what's going on with superstar Victor Wembanyama. Wembanyama has been largely out of the spotlight since being ruled out for the season in February, but recent signs point to a big update regarding their best player.
Perhaps it's just anecdotal, but it seems clear that Wembanyama has continued to grow since the NBA Combine two years ago. There, he measured 7'3 1/2, but recent photos have him looking even taller.
Comparing heights in pictures is imperfect considering perspectives, but when teammate Stephon Castle won Rookie of the Year recently, he took a picture with Wembanyama and Spurs Hall of Famers Tim Duncan and David Robinson.
Duncan is listed at 6'11 and Robinson at 7'1, but Wembanyama doesn't even appear to be standing up straight and still towers over the Twin Towers. I'm sorry; I had to do it.
Wembanyama's continuing to grow is both a gift and a curse to the Spurs
It's not uncommon for young players to grow an inch or two after they are drafted, with many of them being teenagers when they're selected. Still, if Wembanyama is indeed an inch or two taller than his listed 7'3 1/2 height, then that could be both a gift and a curse to the Spurs.
He is already one of the tallest players in the NBA, with the Memphis Grizzlies rookie Zach Edey measuring 7'3 3/4 without shoes. However, when they played against one another, he was noticeably taller than Edey by at least a couple of inches.
That would put his height closer to 7'5 1/2 and would be a big deal. One reason is that few players of that size have ever played in the NBA, and even fewer have had good careers.
Generally, 7'2 is the cutoff in terms of whether a player can have a long and productive career, with only Mark Eaton having a long and successful career while being 7'3 or taller. Yao Ming was both taller and better, of course, but he didn't have a particularly long career, minus the injuries.
Wembanyama's continued growth could make him unstoppable
If Wembanyama can stay healthy, then he will be all the more impressive. If he is closer to being 7'6 than 7'3, then that could add more wear and tear to his knees and feet. On the positive side. If he can continue to fill out, then he could become that much more unguardable in the paint and even on the perimeter. Teams could be forced to double-team when he gets deep position in the post, and his jumper will be virtually uncontestable, given its high release point.
Defensively, Wembanyama would also be much harder to score against in the paint. He is already an elite rim protector who led the league in total blocks and blocks per game in each of his first two seasons. His being even taller would only help him in that regard and help the Spurs on the defensive end.
Ultimately, Wembanyama appears to have gotten taller since being drafted by the Spurs. If that is the case, then it could pose long-term problems for him, considering that he'd be the tallest player to have a long and productive career. On the other hand, it could help him on both sides of the floor, making him all the more unstoppable.