The path of “The Admiral”
On the other side of the coin, David Robinson had as much sizzle as he had steak, if not more. At first glance, Victor Wembanyama seems to resemble “The Admiral” more closely than Tim Duncan, and it’s not just because both men are over seven feet tall.
Unlike the slow dominance of yesterday’s giants, Victor is the next step in the evolution of NBA big men. He has repeatedly shown his ability to handle the ball, which is one of the skills that made David Robinson such a force in the league. Ironically, while David Robinson entered the league earlier than Tim Duncan, yet his game seems more suited to today’s NBA than Duncan’s.
For one thing, David Robinson had a deceptively effective jump shot, which allowed him to continue to do damage offensively even without his back to the basket. Another part of Victor Wembanyama’s game that mirrors David Robinson’s is his footwork. While Tim Duncan’s footwork was also elite, it is much more ‘no nonsense’ than either Victor’s or Robinson’s, both of which have more ‘oomph’ in their steps.
Where Duncan would expend minimal energy and ensure his moves included no wasted motion, Wembanyama exhibits more exaggeration. His turning radius when he spins in the post towards the baseline on the way to the basket is wider. His shakes before he pulls up for a turnaround jump shot are similar in execution. The way he explodes from a dead stop into motion mirrors David Robinson’s.
While it is obvious it bears repeating: David Robinson was a freak of nature and played like one. Wembanyama has smartly leaned into this. Because when you’re over seven feet tall, why wouldn’t you take full advantage of your genetic blessings? As the old saying goes, “if you got it, flaunt it.”
The NBA is a land of giants, and even there Victor will be craning his neck to look down at the vast majority of his competition. While his build is lanky and slender à la Kevin Durant, the young man has shown his power on several occasions on rim-rattling dunks and reverberating blocks.
Genetics like Victor Wembanyama’s is not something that can be taught. But Gregg Popovich could certainly refine the young Frenchman’s play. I would also wager that defense will be made a priority. It has been some time since the Spurs had a dominant defensive anchor.
At the same time, they have plenty of young talents capable of shouldering the offensive load but could use a leader on defense. Victor Wembanyama could very well become that anchor. With his size and length, he could be one of the best shot-blockers and shot-changers in the league, and he would be able to grab a bucket full of boards to ensure his team dominates possessions.