Victor Wembanyama is one of the best two-way defenders in the NBA and is already the league's best defender, but the superstar Frenchman has some hidden talents, as well.
Victor Wembanyama is the best defender in the NBA. Factor in his scoring averages and floor-spacing ability, and there's a strong case to be made that the San Antonio Spurs' superstar is the best two-way player in the NBA.
Often lost in the fold is his passing ability. The NBA has seen big men act as passing hubs more and more often in recent years, with Nikola Jokic, Domantas Sabonis, and Alperen Sengun leading the charge.
Quietly, Wembanyama is also one of the best big men passers in the league, highlighted by his eight-assist outing in the Spurs' most recent win over the Charlotte Hornets.
Spurs' Teammates Appreciate Wemby's Passing
Even before he entered the league, Wembanyama's shooting and ball-handling made him a one-of-a-kind player. As he continues to assert his dominance in the NBA, his passing has improved, although it often goes unappreciated.
His ability to find teammates from all over the floor allows the Spurs to couple him with Luke Kornet, and the pair connected for an alley-oop, the rare 14-foot play.
After the game, Kornet (a veteran and champion) broke down how Wemby opens up new opportunities.
"He obviously draws so much attention," Kornet said. "And he's got a great sense and feel for the game, and vision as a passer, too. His ability to create advantages and then obviously have the angle to be able to make the passes is something pretty special. It's not the most normal setup, but it's a fun one when we get it."
While Wembanyama's passing and scoring gifts go a long way, his biggest impact remains on the defensive side of the ball.
"He has the capacity to kind of play as a big, but then also as a guard, and kind of everywhere in between, so it doesn't necessarily change as much," Kornet added. "Kind of knowing that he's there, and kind of allowing each of us to sort of be more aggressive in our respective things, just knowing that we have someone behind us."
At the start of the season, the Spurs tinkered with the "French Vanilla" lineup, although injuries to Wemby and Kornet forced the Spurs to stagger their two best centers. As they get healthy and as they march towards the postseason, expect the Silver and Black to reintroduce the pairing with some regularity.