Victor Wembanyama Struggles Offensively in Summer League Debut

The No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft had an up-and-down first game with the Spurs.

Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama is widely considered to be the best prospect since LeBron James entered the league two decades ago. 

San Antonio selected Wembanyama with the top pick in last month’s draft, and on Friday night, the 7'3" France native made his NBA debut in the Las Vegas Summer League against the Hornets.

There were plenty of good moments, and plenty of not-so-good moments for Wembanyama in his debut in front of nearly 18,000 fans at the Thomas & Mack Center on the campus of UNLV.

To start with the good, Wembanyama was largely very solid defensively. He finished the contest with five blocks and altered plenty of shots with his defense in the paint, as well as his help defense on the perimeter.

Victor Wembanyama 3rd block of the first half https://t.co/QhlJkg7K4P

— Alex 👋 (@Dubs408) July 8, 2023

Wembanyama was also active on the glass. He snagged eight rebounds on the night, and could have had a handful more. On one first-half possession, Wembanyama blocked a shot, grabbed the rebound and then started a fast break in which he dished out a great assist that led to a bucket underneath.

what on earth is Victor Wembanyama. pic.twitter.com/XjCvociIVl

— Steve Jones Jr. (@stevejones20) July 8, 2023

As for the bad, Wembanyama seemed winded at times on the floor, which he attested to in an interview with the Associated Press on Thursday prior to his debut.

“I can’t wait. Can’t wait,” Wembanyama told AP. “The practices lately have been really intense. I made a little pause in basketball with the draft and stuff, and couldn’t really practice. I’m getting back in shape and I can’t wait. I’m having so much fun.”

Wembanyama certainly did seem tired at times, and it may have led to some of his struggles with his jump shot. Wembanyama went just 2-for-13 from the floor overall with nine points, with his second made shot coming in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter.

Victor Wembanyama drains it from deep for the 4-point play! 😤pic.twitter.com/X8kmYtTvIu

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) July 8, 2023

Wembanyama will have another opportunity on Sunday against the Trail Blazers in a potential matchup against No. 3 pick Scoot Henderson. However, Henderson’s status for that game is unknown, as he is undergoing tests on his shoulder after leaving the game early in Friday night’s loss to Houston.