Inside The Rockets

Houston Rockets Coach Ime Udoka Reveals Defensive Plan for San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama

San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama poses a unique defensive challenge for the Houston Rockets.

Jeremy Brener

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The Houston Rockets got two chances to face the San Antonio Spurs in the preseason, and in the process, found a sneak preview from what the team can expect from No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama.

Standing 7-4 and able to do things no man that size should, Wembanyama poses a unique defensive challenge for anyone in his path. But coach Ime Udoka has a plan for when the Rockets see Wemby during the regular season.

"We kinda got up under him. We wanted to take away his space on the post-ups. He wants to settle for that face-up jump shot or fade away. So we used our strength to push him out," Udoka said after Wednesday's preseason game against the Spurs.

 "He's gonna make some plays here and there. But I feel comfortable with all of our smaller wings kinda climbing up under him and pushing him off the spot. Obviously, it's going to be a tough contest but you can be physical with him. I think everybody got a little bit of a piece of him."

Victor Wembanyama
San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama / Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports

Wembanyama was held to 3 of 10 shooting from the floor but managed to score 15 points with seven makes from the free throw line.

It's clear that when the Rockets play the Spurs, Wembanyama will have to earn everything he can get.

The Rockets won't have to wait too long for the next meeting between the two teams. Houston visits San Antonio on Friday at Frost Bank Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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