Yet arrived with monumental “hype” in the NBA, Victor Wembanyama did not disappoint. Latest proof to date? In his (anonymous) survey of 142 active players in the Great League, almost a third of the league, The Athletic reveals that the rookie is already considered the best defender in the league by his peers!
Thus, 20 of the 132 players who answered the question about the best current defender in the NBA highlighted “Wemby”, or 15.2% of voters. He is ahead of Jrue Holiday (12.9%), Lu Dort (9.8%), Herb Jones (8.3%), Jaden McDaniels (8.3%) and Rudy Gobert (6.0%), who for his part therefore received “only” 8 votes.
“He makes finishing at the rim so difficult” explains one opponent, when another details: “It affects everything in the racket. Opponents don't even try to go to the basket anymore. He's almost leading the league in blocks (he's actually leading, editor's note), and this is his first year. And he does it with limited playing time. »
Rudy Gobert, most highly rated player
Another question in the survey where Victor Wembanyama is the first answer: who would be the first player to sign to build a team at the moment.
With 27.9% of the 136 votes (or 38 votes), “Wemby” is ahead of Nikola Jokic (27.2%), Anthony Edwards (10.3%), Luka Doncic (8.8%), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (4.4%), Jayson Tatum (3.6). %) or even Joel Embiid (2.9%).
“Some of the stuff he does on offense, the way he moves, it seems so fluid.”assures a player. “You just have to see him from afar to realize that he plays the right way. He has the right foundations. He focuses on the good things. I really like him “.
The survey, on the other hand, is much less sympathetic with Rudy Gobertcertainly cited among the best defenders, but who especially inherits the little envied title of “most overrated player in the league”, with 13.6% of the 81 votes (i.e. 11 votes), ahead of Jordan Poole (8.6%), Trae Young ( 7.4%), Dillon Brooks (4.9%) and James Harden (4.9%).
