It was not the evening of Victor Wembanyama Wednesday. Yet at the top of the bill, in his rivalry with Chet Holmgren, “Wemby” experienced one of the most difficult matches of his young NBA career.
Put under pressure by the Thunder defense throughout the match, the Frenchman did not exist offensively with 6 points at 1/5, his lowest career totals, and overall had almost no impact on the match. And it's all the Spurs who struggled, even if we refuse to panic in the Texan ranks.
As against the Mavericks and the Rockets, Victor Wembanyama was entitled to preferential treatment which will become his daily life: permanent double holds and defensive rotations to keep him constantly under pressure.
It's simple, the interior lost almost as many balls as it did not take shots (four balls lost for five shots attempted). “Wemby” had the merit of not forcing it, especially from a distance where he also failed to find the target. But above all he had a hard time finding shooting positions, or even creating a real imbalance in the already well-oiled Oklahoma City defense.
Gregg Popovich had some things to say
Of the five players in San Antonio's starting five, Victor Wembanyama thus finished with the weakest percentage of “use”which estimates the share of possessions exploited in attack by a player, tied with Julian Champagnie (15.7%, against 30.5% during the first three matches of the season). Without their offensive leader, the Spurs' offensives lacked fluidity.
“ It's about the movement of the ball and the players » analyzes Harrison Barnes after the meeting. “ It's an excellent team, with a lot of very good defenders. But in the end, if you don't move the ball and move enough, it's going to be difficult regardless of who the opponent is. »
“ We gave away 27 points on our loose balls, we almost reached our record of 28 from last season » added Gregg Popovich, arriving “late” in front of the media compared to his standards after admitting that he “ had a few things to say » to his team at first. “ It's not good. You have to give credit for that to the Thunder. They are very well trained, disciplined, consistent. I love their team. I love mine too. But we have more work than they do. »
Not a shot attempted in the second period
This work, both individual and in the integration of Chris Paul or Harrison Barnes, will necessarily involve an awakening of Victor Wembanyama. The best rookie of last season is more expected and must find solutions to thwart the defensive plans of his opponents.
On Wednesday, his only basket of the match came on an offensive rebound, without a prior system. But the Frenchman, like his teammates, is not worried, after four games into the season (1-3).
“ I think everyone is in the right frame of mind » assured Victor Wembanyama in the mixed zone. “ But maybe, I don't know if it's our youth or maybe we felt a little lost. » « I don't worry in the slightest about Victor » insisted Harrison Barnes. “ I saw him in action, I worked with him in training. His state of mind is good, he is focused and he makes the effort. I have zero concerns about him. »
Obviously not at his best physically, Victor Wembanyama also had to go through the locker room after a blow and an injury to his ankle in the second quarter, a possible explanation for his second period passing like a shadow, without any shot attempted. Gregg Popovich thus demanded from his team that it “understands that a game lasts 48 minutes”: “you have to fight every quarter, every possession” hammered the Spurs technician.
First reaction expected next night in Utah, back-to-back therefore.
| Victor Wembanyama | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2023-24 | SAN | 71 | 30 | 46.5 | 32.5 | 79.6 | 2.3 | 8.4 | 10.6 | 3.9 | 2.2 | 1.2 | 3.7 | 3.6 | 21.4 |
| 2024-25 | SAN | 3 | 31 | 42.9 | 22.2 | 87.5 | 2.7 | 9.3 | 12.0 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 3.7 | 2.7 | 20.0 |
| Total | 74 | 30 | 46.3 | 32.0 | 79.9 | 2.3 | 8.4 | 10.7 | 3.8 | 2.2 | 1.2 | 3.7 | 3.5 | 21.4 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
