Wembanyamarama

Kliq

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 31, 2013
24,167
It kind of blows my mind that he doesn't lead the NBA in dunks, given plays like that were he can just turn pretty much any pass within a ten-foot radius of the hoop into a dunk. He's "only" 9th with 139 dunks on the season, in between Derek Lively and Jarrett Allen. Giannis is first with 220 dunks, followed by Gobert, Anthony Davis, Aaron Gordon, Daniel Gafford, Nic Claxton and Jalen Duren.
 

InstaFace

The Ultimate One
SoSH Member
Sep 27, 2016
24,212
Pittsburgh, PA
Depends on how you look at it. How many teams would be better if you took out their best player and replaced him with Victor? I can see an argument of "everyone but Denver", and the answer might actually be everyone but Denver and Boston, because the upgrade from KP to Wemby, while real, isn't as huge as it would be for most teams. Like it's not even clear to me that most teams would be better off with Giannis than with Wemby at this point.

The way NBA voters actually do the MVP voting takes team success / context into account a lot, plus narrative / rep / vibes. Wembanyama will have to prove himself for several years and have a better team before he becomes a legit contender for winning it. But someone throwing him a 4th or 5th place vote wouldn't be crazy to me, either, given how completely unstoppable he is out there, on both ends.
 

radsoxfan

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 9, 2009
14,559
Depends on how you look at it. How many teams would be better if you took out their best player and replaced him with Victor? I can see an argument of "everyone but Denver", and the answer might actually be everyone but Denver and Boston, because the upgrade from KP to Wemby, while real, isn't as huge as it would be for most teams. Like it's not even clear to me that most teams would be better off with Giannis than with Wemby at this point.
Wait you’re talking about right now, in 2024?? That’s lunacy.

I’m a big Wemby fan and I like him in the discussion for 3rd team all NBA this year. But no chance he’s an upgrade on everyone but Jokic this year.
 

m0ckduck

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 20, 2005
2,107
Yeah, let's keep our shirts on.

The Ringer Top 100 currently has him at 24 (last updated 11 days ago). You can make the case that he's vaulted Lillard (23), Sabonis (22), Bam (21) and maybe a couple others... but high teens is as high as I can reasonably put him right now. Starting with Anthony Edwards at 17, I don't see how he'd be an upgrade over any of the remaining players (well, maybe Jimmy Butler, whose #13 ranking is largely about respect for the specter of Playoff Jimmy).
 

the moops

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 19, 2016
5,342
Saint Paul, MN
With all-NBA being positionless, he shouldn't get any of those votes either. Yes, he has been phenomenal since all-star break (or whatever arbitrary cutoff people are using), but all-NBA is, and should be an all season award. The guy is incredible defensively, no doubt, but he has a TS% of .562. That is bad. Especially bad for a center
 

Euclis20

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 3, 2004
9,638
Oakland
What’s his wingspan? Looks like it’s 10 feet.
I believe it's listed as 8 feet, which is the best among active players (narrowly ahead of Gobert and Bamba, but still solidly behind Tacko).

With all-NBA being positionless, he shouldn't get any of those votes either. Yes, he has been phenomenal since all-star break (or whatever arbitrary cutoff people are using), but all-NBA is, and should be an all season award. The guy is incredible defensively, no doubt, but he has a TS% of .562. That is bad. Especially bad for a center
Yeah if positions were still taken into account, it could get interesting (especially with Embiid not qualifying). After Jokic, here would be the contenders for 2nd and 3rd team center:

-Anthony Davis
-JJJ
-Sengun
-Sabonis
-Bam
-Jarrett Allen
-Gobert

Are two of those guys definitely better than Wembanyama this year? AD sure, but Wemby would have a punchers chance against Bam/Sabonis/Gobert for the 3rd spot.
 

JHS

New Member
Aug 2, 2006
8
It’s notable that a 40-20 game in a (for them) big win doesn’t get raved about here. The guy is amazing!
 

InstaFace

The Ultimate One
SoSH Member
Sep 27, 2016
24,212
Pittsburgh, PA
After securing the win the other day, Wemby did this - high-fived a fan and tossed the ball into the stands - and he's been fined $25k for it.

View: https://twitter.com/kicks/status/1774512778889535760



I think it's awesome enough he should make it "his thing" and just see if the league will keep fining him. It's not like there's some big risk to the spectators or something, and the game is, by definition, over if he's doing this.
 

Euclis20

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 3, 2004
9,638
Oakland
After securing the win the other day, Wemby did this - high-fived a fan and tossed the ball into the stands - and he's been fined $25k for it.

View: https://twitter.com/kicks/status/1774512778889535760



I think it's awesome enough he should make it "his thing" and just see if the league will keep fining him. It's not like there's some big risk to the spectators or something, and the game is, by definition, over if he's doing this.
I'll be happy if he just does it the next time Giannis hits some personal milestone or record.
 

benhogan

Granite Truther
SoSH Member
Nov 2, 2007
22,157
Santa Monica
After securing the win the other day, Wemby did this - high-fived a fan and tossed the ball into the stands - and he's been fined $25k for it.

View: https://twitter.com/kicks/status/1774512778889535760



I think it's awesome enough he should make it "his thing" and just see if the league will keep fining him. It's not like there's some big risk to the spectators or something, and the game is, by definition, over if he's doing this.
Plus some lucky fan gets a great souvenir

I'll never understand why NFL & NBA teams don't let players just toss balls into the stands after TDs or at the buzzer:rolleyes:

I spent $800 on 2 tickets & all the snacks for me and my kid a few months ago for OKish seats. The Clippers could have afforded tossing a few balls into the stands at the end (rewards those hardcore fans that stay until the end).
 

InstaFace

The Ultimate One
SoSH Member
Sep 27, 2016
24,212
Pittsburgh, PA
Totally agree. If tennis players can sign a few balls and then knock a few into the stands with their racket, surely a (signed?) basketball could be lightly tossed towards some aware and cheering fans.
 

HomeRunBaker

bet squelcher
SoSH Member
Jan 15, 2004
32,049
Plus some lucky fan gets a great souvenir

I'll never understand why NFL & NBA teams don't let players just toss balls into the stands after TDs or at the buzzer:rolleyes:
These leagues must avoid fans identifying the chips in their equipment which would disclose info on their “scripted” games. Gotta protect the brand.
 

Smokey Joe

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 9, 2001
1,295
These leagues must avoid fans identifying the chips in their equipment which would disclose info on their “scripted” games. Gotta protect the brand.
Not to mention that it would allow the fans to check to see if the balls are properly inflated.
 

m0ckduck

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 20, 2005
2,107
Rookie seasons:

Wemby: 29.2 MPG, .468 FG%, 10.5 REB, 3.6 AST, 3.4 BLK, 21.2 PPG
Ralph Sampson: 32.8 MPG*, .523 FG%, 11.1 REB, 2.0 AST, 2.4 BLK, 21.0 PPG

* played all 82 games

A reminder (a) how good Ralph's rookie year was and (b) that the Wemby Experience can still play out in any one of several different directions. Of course, Sampson was three years older and had correspondingly more mileage on his knees, so that's one point in favor of Wemby with the comparison.
 

slamminsammya

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2006
11,000
San Francisco
Rookie seasons:

Wemby: 29.2 MPG, .468 FG%, 10.5 REB, 3.6 AST, 3.4 BLK, 21.2 PPG
Ralph Sampson: 32.8 MPG*, .523 FG%, 11.1 REB, 2.0 AST, 2.4 BLK, 21.0 PPG

* played all 82 games

A reminder (a) how good Ralph's rookie year was and (b) that the Wemby Experience can still play out in any one of several different directions. Of course, Sampson was three years older and had correspondingly more mileage on his knees, so that's one point in favor of Wemby with the comparison.
the block numbers are in different stratospheres. way more shots were blockable in sampson era just based on where they were taking them
 

SirPsychoSquints

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 13, 2005
6,366
Pittsburgh, PA
the block numbers are in different stratospheres. way more shots were blockable in sampson era just based on where they were taking them
To support this - Wemby leads the league with 3.4 BPG, second place is several players at 2.4. In 1983-84, Mark Eaton led with 4.3, Tree Rollins had 3.4, and Sampson was in third place with 2.4.

Each team is currently averaging 5.1 BPG, in 83-84 they averaged 5.3.
 

Kliq

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 31, 2013
24,167
Sampson was also three years older. Wemby does have the advantage of playing in the fake stats era, but obviously still incredible.
 

Auger34

used to be tbb
SoSH Member
Apr 23, 2010
11,838
How long do we have before he is the consensus no doubt best player in the NBA? 2 years?
 

wade boggs chicken dinner

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 26, 2005
33,165
How long do we have before he is the consensus no doubt best player in the NBA? 2 years?
Assuming good health, whenever he gets some teammates who realize that he's the best player in the NBA.

As has been mentioned in lots of rumours, if the Spurs get Trae Young, I think he'd likely win MVP.
 

TomRicardo

rusty cohlebone
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Feb 6, 2006
21,695
Row 14
It kind of blows my mind that he doesn't lead the NBA in dunks, given plays like that were he can just turn pretty much any pass within a ten-foot radius of the hoop into a dunk. He's "only" 9th with 139 dunks on the season, in between Derek Lively and Jarrett Allen. Giannis is first with 220 dunks, followed by Gobert, Anthony Davis, Aaron Gordon, Daniel Gafford, Nic Claxton and Jalen Duren.
There is literally no play making outside of him in San Antonio. He is practically begging for lobs. If I was San Antonio I would looking to overpay Tyus Jones next year.

Edit - If I was San Antonio, I would probably go after Tobias Harris and Jones.
 

bosockboy

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
22,086
St. Louis, MO
There is literally no play making outside of him in San Antonio. He is practically begging for lobs. If I was San Antonio I would looking to overpay Tyus Jones next year.

Edit - If I was San Antonio, I would probably go after Tobias Harris and Jones.
Trae Young chatter as his superstar pairing.
 

HomeRunBaker

bet squelcher
SoSH Member
Jan 15, 2004
32,049
There is literally no play making outside of him in San Antonio. He is practically begging for lobs. If I was San Antonio I would looking to overpay Tyus Jones next year.

Edit - If I was San Antonio, I would probably go after Tobias Harris and Jones.
VanVleet was the ideal PG for this team last summer. I would have loved to see that pairing.
 

Saints Rest

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
San Antonio having (potentially) two top-10 picks this year should prove interesting. These two plus Wemby should be giving Pop the fountain of youth to coach for a few more years.
(EDIT: the second pick is from the Raptors, but is top-6 protected).
 

Euclis20

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 3, 2004
9,638
Oakland
Trae Young chatter as his superstar pairing.
Wemby is the best way to hide Young defensively, and Young is the best [realistic] player to pair with Wemby to maximize the latter's offense. The fact that Atlanta is clearly at a crossroads is a good thing for the Spurs.

Maybe they end up getting someone great with another top pick in June, but I think the Spurs really missed the boat by not paying for either FVV or Reaves (not a point guard, but he'd be better for Wemby offensively than anyone currently on the Spurs). Lord knows the Spurs have historically had good lottery luck, but after seeming like a lock for top 3 lottery odds (at worst) all year, they're now just a game out of 5th.
 
Last edited:

TomRicardo

rusty cohlebone
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Feb 6, 2006
21,695
Row 14
Tobias Harris is garbage. I mean he is a fine player but he is not anyone I would be targeting.
He is good citizen / senior player who has played with Embiid and has playoff experience. You do a lot worse than 40/2 with an third year option on Harris if you are San Antonio, especially if you go after Trae.

VanVleet was the ideal PG for this team last summer. I would have loved to see that pairing.
Oh I agree. The current state of the Spurs is horrific. The roster outside Wemby and maybe Vassell is entirely forgettable. I don't think anything in the draft this year is going to change that or accelerate Wemby's timeline.

That said Sarr or Shepard would be interesting next to Wemby. Shepard doesn't make sense if you are going after Young though.
 
Last edited:

Ed Hillel

Wants to be startin somethin
SoSH Member
Dec 12, 2007
48,483
Here
I think Pop would have a coronary coaching Trae Young, but it would be entertaining.
 

HomeRunBaker

bet squelcher
SoSH Member
Jan 15, 2004
32,049
That said Sarr or Shepard would be interesting next to Wemby. Shepard doesn't make sense if you are going after Young though.
Landing in SA would be a godsend for Trae in that guiding dribble penetration into the lane the way Utah schemed it with Mitchell and Gobert would almost be too natural for Trae.
 

RorschachsMask

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 23, 2011
6,885
Lynn
Trae’s defensive warts are very, very real, but he’s a top 3-5 offensive engine in basketball. Pop is (or was) an incredible coach at masking weaknesses. Then take into account that he’d have someone who will be one of the all time great safety nets, behind him.

If they get Trae, make another couple decent signings. and hit on their pick or picks, I think they win 45+ games next season.
 

m0ckduck

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 20, 2005
2,107
Prying Darius Garland away from the Cavs if Mitchell agrees to stay there would be the ideal play, IMO. But more likely, the Cavs deal Mitchell and keep Garland... in which case, yes, Trae would be a dynamic pairing (both in upside and downside).
 

m0ckduck

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 20, 2005
2,107
i think he might already be a top ten player. that’s nuts.
In a recent podcast, Simmons did a ranking of top players that I found weirdly spot on, where he landed with Wemby at 15.

I remember all the players he had over ranked over Vic, but likely have some players in the wrong spot by a peg or two:

1. Jokic
2. Giannis
3. Luka
4. SGA
5. Tatum
6. Durant
7. Kawhi
8. Curry
9. Embiid
10. AD
11. Booker
12. Lebron
13. Brunson
14. Ant
15. Wembanyama

So: behind James, Brunson, Ant but ahead of guys like Haliburton, Butler, Mitchell, PG13. To me, that feels right.