Wembanyama Health & Spurs Future | NBA Analysis

Everyone agrees on one point: Victor Wembanyama is the future of the NBA. He can impose his law for years. And write his legend. For some, this is already a certainty. “In 15 to 20 years, the debate over the greatest player of all time will come down to this: Michael Jordan, LeBron James and Wemby. These are the three names that will come up in the GOAT conversation“, Kendrick Perkins dared at the end of October in USA Today. But for everyone, there is also a “but”. And not the least: his physique. Perkins, 2008 NBA champion with Boston, added a “if he stays healthy” to his prediction…

It’s an old sea serpent with Victor Wembanyama, who is only 22 years old. Even before his historic draft for a Frenchman, the former Nanterre and Boulogne-Levallois player saw doubts arise in the analyzes about his ability to withstand the shock in the NBA and to succeed in imposing himself without seeing his body slow him down by injuries, while he has such an atypical combination between his size and his dexterity. And even today when he has already missed 14 matches this season due to physical problems, the questions remain.

Barkley : “The only question about Victor is his health.”

This is obviously linked to his size and body. Because the NBA has already seen giants of its size see their careers ruined by injuries. We can think of Greg Oden or Yao Ming, two former draft numbers 1 who did not have the impact that their talent could lead to hope even if the Chinese pivot had a few good hours with the Rockets during his eight years in the League. “I have a little concern in the long term because history shows us that players who are 2.24 m, 2.26 m or 2.29 m have fairly short careers. They don’t have careers of 15 or 16 years. They usually last eight or nine years.s, a reconnu Perkins. So every time he gets injured, it concerns me because of his physique, his size and his stature.”.

A concern shared by many NBA observers. And in particular, another renowned consultant, Charles Barkley. “The only question about Victor is his healththe former Sixers star slipped during the Dan Patrick Show in October. No one questions his ability to play. The question is simply whether he can stay healthy. These players have a very particular physique. He probably has the most unique physique we’ve ever seen in the NBA, aside from Shaquille.”

Shaquille O’Neal, in fact, refused the idea of ​​a certain fragility linked to size when USA Today questioned him in November about the physical problems of the French phenomenon. “There are different forms of injury, those that can be avoided and those that are not. (…) Sometimes you get scratches and bruises, you have to deal with it. It’s part of the process. And for everyone“, had swept Shaq.

Victor Wembanyama has an injury problem

Credit: Imago

“He has a good body” sweeps Shaq

Victor Wembanyama’s main challenge, however, is there. And these last few months have reminded us of that. If the venous thrombosis in a shoulder which deprived him of the last months of the last season obviously has nothing to do with it, his calf problems and his “hyperextension” of the knee at the start of the year have added grist to the mill of those who already consider him an “injury prone” player, such as Anthony Davis, Zion Williamson and other Kristaps Porzingis.

However, there are many points to refute these critical theories. Like his full season with Boulogne-Levallois before taking the plunge into the NBA, his 71 matches during his first NBA season or his six missed matches for 46 played before being stopped by his thrombosis during his second year at Spurs. Wemby’s care in preparing his body as best as possible, his lifestyle and his professionalism also speak for him. Just like his specific work since his young years on his supports and his feet, in order to best compose his unique body and his game.

“He’s in good shape. He’s worked hard, done yoga and gotten stronger. He’s got a good body,” Shaq said. And at Spurs – an organization known for the seriousness of its work – he is in good hands. But to make history in the game, his body will have to keep up. “ Can anyone tell me a flaw in his game today, at the age of 22? You can’t tell me anything, because he doesn’t have any. SIf this man stays healthy, he will arguably become the best defender we have ever seen. I think he will win five or six defender of the year titles“, slips Perkins, who leaves this “if” that we would like not to have to write.