Victor Wembanyama poised for breakout sophomore season

Victor Wembanyama exceeded all expectations last season, leaving NBA fans eagerly anticipating what the 7-foot-4 phenom has in store for his second year in the league.

With incredible range and an ability to go coast-to-coast in a matter of a few steps to either finish on a fast break or swat a shot, the 2024 NBA Rookie of the Year is a player you have to see to believe. 

The French native averaged 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds and 3.6 blocks over 71 games his rookie season. His 254 blocks led the league by a wide margin and on a per-game basis, his 3.6 blocks per game figure was higher than Brook Lopez and Walker Kessler’s averages and they tied for second in the league by that metric. 

That separation from other elite shot blockers in the league underscores the magnitude of Wembanyama’s shot-blocking ability. It’s rare.

For Wembanyama to turn in that impressive rookie season at age 19, it’s hard not to wonder just how good he can get from here. The Spurs star is expected to increase his minutes from the 29.7 average from last season.

Wembanyama and the Spurs should benefit from an improved supporting cast after winning just 22 games last season. 

Chris Paul signed with the Spurs in the offseason to add veteran leadership and give the Spurs a strong facilitator in the backcourt. New addition Harrison Barnes gives an infusion of talent and experience on the wing and rookie Stephon Castle shows plenty of promise at just 19. 

Castle was key to UConn’s repeat NCAA title run in 2024. The Georgia native was a highly coveted recruit out of high school and delivered on his potential by earning Big East Freshman of the Year honors. He averaged 11.1 points on 47.2% shooting from the floor on one of the best college teams in recent memory. Castle should also  make an immediate impact as defender who can play minutes at both guard spots. 

Still, the Spurs’ success will hinge heavily on Wembanyama’s development, especially on the offensive end. He shot a promising 46.5% from the floor and 79.6% from the free-throw line in 2023-24. He’ll need to improve his perimeter shooting, which he appears willing to do after averaging 5.5 3-point attempts per game last season and shot 32.5% from 3-point land. 

Some of the best big shooters in the league average upwards of 40% from long range and Wemby could start to make inroads towards that goal this season after working on his shot over the summer. If the 3-point game becomes a major part of Wemby’s game, there’s no telling how high his ceiling wll be.

If everything breaks right this season for the French phenom, Wembanyama could be in the MVP discussion.