Victor Wembanyama and the undefeated Spurs are just getting started Morten Stig Jensen October 28, 2025 at 11:30 PM 0 As the San Antonio Spurs improved to 40 after their Monday night rout of the Toronto Raptors — their best start since 201718 — there was no question as to how they had achieved their...
- - Victor Wembanyama and the undefeated Spurs are just getting started
Morten Stig Jensen October 28, 2025 at 11:30 PM
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As the San Antonio Spurs improved to 4-0 after their Monday night rout of the Toronto Raptors — their best start since 2017-18 — there was no question as to how they had achieved their streak.
At just 21 years old, Victor Wembanyama is not only the organization's best player. He's their anchor, and his presence on the floor dictates not only how the Spurs play, but how opponents approach their offensive sets.
It wasn't until late in the fourth quarter when Wembanyama gathered his first block — a high-flying swat on RJ Barrett — which extended his block streak to 89 games, the fourth longest in NBA history, and yet the Frenchman completely dominated the game defensively.
This has been a theme throughout his young career.
If Wembanyama is even remotely close to the basket, teams will do everything in their power to lure him outside or simply settle for long-range shots, which the Spurs seem to be generally fine with.
If he's at the free-throw line area, teams will probe, with the most-often result being ball-handlers running the ball back outside the 3-point line, even if they get past the 7-foot-5 behemoth on an initial drive.
The fear of Wembanyama chasing down their shots simply becomes too great, and they lose their nerve and reset the offense, with a ticking clock now becoming an additional enemy.
San Antonio's entire defense is geared toward funneling the ball toward the area in which Wembanyama operates, with the notion that a player such as Stephon Castle is meant to provide a tough initial cover to weaken the ball-handler before he meets the final boss.
Offensively, we're seeing a major change within Wembanyama's game from last season to this one.
Over the course of four games, Wembanyama has taken just 11 total shots from behind the 3-point line. He averaged nine attempts per game last season, just to put that into context.
The change isn't random but carefully calculated.
Wembanyama has greatly improved his ball-handling over the summer, to the point where he feels comfortable creating against, well, everyone.
He's now exploring his own development, using advanced footwork — courtesy of Hakeem Olajuwon, whom Wembanyama trained with during the offseason — and is managing to get closer to the rim than ever before, utilizing speed, athleticism and the aforementioned live dribble.
Defenders have no idea how to stop him. He's a behemoth handling the ball like 6-2 Kyrie Irving, shifting his weight, dribbling between his legs and keeping the ball low.
The logic is easily apparent. If big men struggle to cover guards off switches, why not emulate a guard and put the defender into a position where he's constantly at a major disadvantage?
It's clear Wembanyama is on to something. He's converting 60.2% of his shots and getting to the line more than ever (10 times per game), drawing fouls and generally causing havoc from 15 feet and in.
Let's circle back to the 3-point shot, which still comes in handy even when he's not taking it.
Wembanyama is leveraging the fear of the shot to his advantage and is doing so at a level that has opposing defensive units overreacting.
He sells the shot fake and goes immediately into a drive, forcing the help defense to rotate over early, and then he gives the ball up to the corners. The ball swings, and the Spurs usually end up getting a quality outside look.
Alternatively, Wembanyama will fake a shot, dish off the ball, cut hard toward the rim and receive it right back, as he's in motion toward the basket. For most players, they make the accurate business decision of simply getting out of the way.
As for Wembanyama's other areas of improvement, there is the rebounding, particularly on the defensive end.
He's averaging 13.8 rebounds this season; 12 on the defensive end. His level of defensive playmaking is some of the most astounding we've ever seen.
In 129 minutes this season, Wembanyama has grabbed 48 defensive rebounds, swatted 19 shots and managed six steals.
Add into account the fact that he's also scored 124 points, and we're looking at a per-minute production level that's nearly historic.
What does anyone even do against a 7-5 center who averages 31 points, has become an elite rebounder and is the best defender in the league?
No one knows because we've never seen this before.
Players have resigned themselves to the Wembanyama factor, knowing they won't get the shots they want, nor that their isolation capabilities will be in any way relevant when he's on the floor.
Should Wembanyama maintain his current production and impact throughout the remainder of the season, odds are good the Spurs will find themselves in the top six in the West and in the postseason — even if their first four opponents have only been so-so.
For Wembanyama, it will mean a genuine crack at the MVP award and becoming the youngest to ever win it.
He and the Spurs will have to prove it against teams in the upper echelon, but considering they're currently 4-0 without De'Aaron Fox, the team's second-best player, and are also missing Jeremy Sochan, it's worth considering if the returns of those two could help the franchise get to the necessary 50-55 wins for Wembanyama to gain legitimate MVP consideration.
It's a long road ahead, with bumps and challenges along the way. That's to be expected.
Regardless, Wembanyama and the Spurs have, at the very least, come out with a major message to the rest of the league.
You better get your winning out of the way immediately.
Source: "AOL Sports"
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