Huge giant Victor Wimpanyama sets the tone in the NBA

Two security guards at the edge of the court look at each other with open mouths when Victor Wembanyama steps onto the hardwood floor at Madison Square Garden an hour before the game wearing a white T-shirt and dark track pants. “He’s 7 feet tall,” says one in awe.

With a series of dribbles and shots, the 19-year-old Frenchman from the San Antonio Spurs prepares for the away game against the New York Knicks. The crowd came to the stadium early, as they only do with big stars.

Wimbanyama is playing just his eighth NBA game in New York, but he has already become the talk of the town among league followers. Even last year, when he played for French side Metropolitans 92, he kept people busy across the Atlantic. Wembanyama has been heralded as the greatest talent since LeBron James, and perhaps the best basketball player of all time.

The first weeks were not disappointing: on average, he was good for nearly twenty points per game. The impressive performance against the Phoenix Suns in particular generated excitement. Wembanyama scored 38 points against the team of his idol, Kevin Durant, who left a deep impression on him. “He is different from anyone who has ever played,” the American said of the teenager. “He will create his own way.”

Interesting body

“Victor, why are you so tall?” shouts a spectator from the stands at Madison Square Garden. Standing 2.24 meters tall, with arms spanning 2.40 metres, and a shoe size of 55, the lanky Parisian has a great look. There seemed to be no end to his legs. Compared to his limbs, his torso seems on the small side.

His body is interesting, but it’s only when he starts moving that the real magic happens. While basketball players his height are typically judged for clumsy and stiff motor skills, Wimbanyama glides smoothly and agile across the court.

The Frenchman has speed, can dribble like a diminutive playmaker and shoot from any position. “He shows things we’ve never seen before from someone his height,” says former pro Henk Norrell, who stands 2.13 metres. “He actually can do it all.”

The Frenchman reminds him of video games in which players can create their own virtual basketball player. “Everyone then changes the length to the max, makes their arms longer and also allows him to shoot well,” Norrell says. “A kind of Wepanema.” It now exists in real life.

New York is crucial

The duties of basketball’s biggest and tallest players have changed over the years, says Norell, who was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2009 but never made it to the NBA. For years he played in the highest Spanish league. “When I first got involved, you had the classic big man who was 130 or 140 kilograms and didn’t move more than ten feet from the basket. This is moving farther and farther. You also have to be able to shoot now. It looks like Wembanyama has skipped a number of steps.” In the evolution of basketball through his unorthodox complete play.

Expectations are high for his debut at Madison Square Garden, the iconic basketball temple where stars usually shine. Ahead of the game, the US media is looking back at the first performances of greats like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson and LeBron James, Wimpanyama’s stars of the past year.

They were also once considered once-in-a-generation talents. These are the men the outside world compares Wambanyama to, whether it wants to or not.

He’s having a tough time against Knicks, who seems pretty fired up because of all the attention the teens are getting. In the first half, Wembanyama scored only two points, from two free throws. A three-pointer sails along the hoop in space. The New York crowd is unforgiving. ‘Exaggerated’, appeared en masse from the stands. Exaggerated.

the artist

Wembanyama is protected after the match by his 74-year-old coach, Gregg Popovich. “He’s only 19 and he’s just arrived,” says the American, who has helped Tottenham win five trophies. “At this stage of his career he is still learning a lot.”

Popovic is not concerned about his student, whom he calls mature and balanced. He regularly stresses that Wembanyama has been brought up well. He is the son of a Congolese high jumper (father) and a French basketball coach (mother).

The young basketball player is humble and eloquent in both French and English. Although he lacks the enthusiasm of other stars, he seems to understand Americans’ appetite for entertainment. On Halloween weekend, he dressed as Slenderman, a supernatural appearance from American folklore. Fully dressed and wearing a white mask on his head, he participated in the away game against the Phoenix Suns. Given his height, it quickly became clear who was wearing the suit.

The match in New York (125-105) was considered a forfeit when Wimpanyama showed some flashes of his class in the fourth quarter. He receives the ball at full speed, dances around the defender and throws the ball across the ring. The difficult left hand position also makes an impression. Only his shot let him down in his New York debut.

Defensive qualities

He often excels defensively. With his long arms, Wimbanyama blocks shots that would be beyond anyone else’s reach. Players who think they can shoot three-pointers with complete freedom are always surprised by the speed of Wimpanyama and the windmill blades that appear out of nowhere. “It’s not just the shots he’s blocking,” Norrell said. “A lot of shots aren’t taken even when he’s around. Opponents see them and change their minds.

Wembanyama will have to get used to losing this season in San Antonio (Texas). The club was able to select him in the spring because he won only 22 of 82 games last season. In the NBA, the greatest talent is distributed to the worst teams.

San Antonio’s defense is especially problematic if Wimpanyama is allowed to rest. So far, he has played an average of less than half an hour per match.

His reputation makes him a target for opponents. He is sometimes treated harshly against the Knicks. Out of frustration, he punches his opponent’s arm away after the whistle. He will be met with boos. “They want to test me, but this is nothing new,” Wembanyama said afterward to a packed press room. ‘I’ve been used to it for years. “It’s up to me to keep calm and help my team.”

Mass or speed?

According to some experts, he will have to gain muscle mass in the coming years if he wants to be able to compete under the basket. Right now, he’s mainly centered around the three-point line. “His dribbling and shooting are great, but his weight is an issue,” ESPN commentator Hubie Brown said. “He was pushed aside by the bigger boys.” The only question is whether he will lose speed if he gains weight.

Just because Wimbanyama can do it all doesn’t mean he has to do it all, Norrell says. “He’s really the go-to guy at Tottenham. He dribbles, blocks and shoots. Maybe they should let him specialize a little more, because the question is whether it can continue. If you have to play 82 games in a season, it’s a real challenge.” For such a body.

For the tallest men in basketball, it’s important to beware of injuries. Norrell, who has suffered from persistent knee problems throughout his career, says the joints are weak on heavy objects. But if Wembanyama stays fit and can reach his ceiling, the sky’s the limit for the Frenchman. Norell: “He has the potential to be the best player in the NBA for years to come.”