Victor Wembanyama has been an absolute force for the San Antonio Spurs for three seasons now, no question about it. This dude’s not just a star, he’s arguably the toughest player to square up against in the entire league, period. And when one of the NBA’s most relentless defenders, Patrick Beverley, speaks up about why Wemby is unguardable, you better listen up. Beverley just dropped a comparison for the 7’5″ phenom that should have every single team in the league already rethinking their game plans.
Wemby’s Size Game Is Different
At a staggering 7’5″, Wembanyama quite literally towers over pretty much everyone in the NBA, and he uses every single inch of that height to his advantage on both ends of the floor. Offensively, he can launch shots from spots where defenders just can’t even dream of reaching him. It’s like he’s playing on a different court! And on defense? His length is just ridiculous, allowing him to swat away almost any shot that comes his way. He’s not just a defensive phenom, though; he’s equally a nightmare to try and stop when he’s got the ball. For three seasons, we’ve seen him dominate in ways that are just second-to-none.
Beverley Spills the Unstoppable Secret
Patrick Beverley knows a thing or two about defense. He’s built a career out of being a physical, hard-working defender who’s battled against some of the best point guards and shooting guards in recent memory. But even a guy like Beverley, who is usually an absolute bulldog, admits he’s up against it with players as massive as Wembanyama. On Thanasis Antetokounmpo’s podcast, Thanalysis, Beverley got real, saying Wemby has such a significant size advantage that he can simply shoot over smaller defenders.
Beverley didn’t stop there, though. He delivered the ultimate comparison that tells you everything you need to know about why Wemby is next-level. “What I’ve learned from being around Kawhi Leonard, LeBron James, and Giannis, right? What I learned about those three guys. One of those guys can beat you here, here, here, mechanical, Kawhi Leonard,” Beverley explained. “Wemby, he’s a mix of all three of those guys. That’s also 7’5”. He’s arguably the tallest player in the NBA. So when you get a player with that much skill, and mind you, he doesn’t have to use his skill all the time.” Think about that: the mechanical precision of Kawhi, the all-around dominance of LeBron, the sheer force of Giannis, all rolled into one 7’5″ frame. It means Wemby can get the ball up at such a high pickup point, it effectively eliminates most defenders. That’s why opponents get so physical with him in the paint, because what else are they supposed to do? But even then, Wemby finds a way to make an impact.
This kind of talent, this kind of hybrid skill set, combined with that freakish 7’5″ frame, makes it clear why Victor Wembanyama is being hailed as the face of the NBA moving forward. After playing in his first NBA Playoffs, Wemby is only going to get better. The league better brace itself, because if Beverley’s assessment is right, we’re witnessing something truly special.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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