In one of the most anticipated NBA debuts in recent years, Victor Wembenyama made an impact for the San Antonio Spurs on Monday. It was just a preseason game, but Wembenyama had all eyes on him as he finished with 20 points, five rebounds, a block and two steals in just 19 minutes. He looked like a rookie at times, then in flashes showed just why the decision makers of the NBA regard Wembenyama as a generational prospect that could change the balance of power in the NBA to his San Antonio Spurs much like David Robinson and Tim Duncan did before him.
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Wemby finished 8-of-13 from the floor, 2-of-5 from three-point range and 2-for-3 from the free throw line. There was never a point where he forced the action or played like he knew all the eyes and cameras were on him. The offense came to Wemby like a seasoned veteran.
What made this debut even more special was who was on the other side of the court: Chet Holmgren. The two had a moment early in the game when Wemby attacked the rim off the dribble and went through Holmgren with what could have been an offensive foul as he created the separation with a head butt. A rivalry was born.
This was also the preseason debut for Holmgren, who missed all of last year after Summer League action with a foot injury. He is back, giving the Oklahoma City Thunder another young dynamic athlete, filling a huge void for the team in the paint. Holmgren finished the game with 21 points, nine rebounds and a block on 7-of-10 shooting (2-for-2 from three-point range) and 5-for-7 from the line.
These two big men represent the future of the NBA in the paint. They are a new kind of center that can handle the ball, make plays, shoot from three, finish at the rim and be dominant on the defensive end with their rim protection. Both San Antonio and Oklahoma City are building teams that could control the future of the NBA with a dynamic seven-footer anchoring the paint.
All night both Wemby and Holmgren were tested at the rim with the teams attacking the paint to see if they could make a highlight play on the big fellas.
Wemby was up to the task when second-year playmaker Jalen Williams broke down the defense and attacked the rim. Against many defenders in the NBA Williams would have finished with two points, but Wemby stayed with him, tracked the ball and blocked the layup from behind.
On the very next offensive possession he took Holmgren off the dribble and finished through him for a chance at a three-point play.
Later in the second quarter there was another sequence with just under a minute to play where Wemby hit a catch-and-shoot three-pointer on an out of bounds play, followed by a pull-up three created by a dribble hand off from Zach Collins.
This game was a showcase for how Wembenyama can be used as a weapon on both ends of the floor. He finished on the fastbreak with two dunks, made two threes and finished in the paint off the dribble a couple times. He was a deterrent at the rim and used his length to create steals for his teammates and for turnovers.
It is going to be a long journey this season and beyond for Wemby to meet his ultimate potential, but this first preseason game was a taste of what is to come this season.
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