Inside The Spurs

Victor Wembanyama's Size Makes Ceiling 'Sky'-High, But Not Without 'Growing Pains'

As the Spurs inch closer to drafting Wembanyama, his height only continues to stick out, which could be the greatest thing about him, if he remains healthy and motivated.

Matt Guzman

Victor Wembanyama's Size Makes Ceiling 'Sky'-High, But Not Without 'Growing Pains'
Victor Wembanyama's Size Makes Ceiling 'Sky'-High, But Not Without 'Growing Pains' /
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If one thing is clear about future San Antonio Spurs No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama, it's that his size is as unique as his talent. 

After arriving for the NBA Draft Tuesday, Wembanyama got the chance to throw out a first pitch for the Yankees — even making a baseball seem miniature compared to his Kawhi Leonard-esque hands. 

By time players get to the NBA, growing any taller isn't really heard of, though there is a chance for Wembanyama considering his age. Adding a few inches of height however, would make him that much more unique, especially given his skill set, which has been a big reason for the constant praise he's gotten over the past year. 

"Guys don't do the things he does at that size," The Athletic wrote. "He's hitting step-back 3s like Steph Curry." 

Getting compared to some of the league's best players before stepping foot on an NBA court speaks levels to Wembanyama's expected success. If he isn't winning titles within a few years with the Spurs, he'll be written off by more than just a few analysts, though there will be other factors under close examination besides how far San Antonio makes it in the postseason.

"I guess the main question is [his] body," The Athletic continued. "He's not built the same way Chet Holmgren is, but he's slender. [Kristaps] Porzingis is built the same way, and his body hasn't held up well. Giannis was thin coming in, too."

Again, compared to one of the league's top center-power forwards. That's how it's going to be for Wembanyama up until he creates his own NBA legacy. Until then, he'll have to get used to it. 

Antetokounmpo is a great point of comparison, however. When he entered the association in 2023, his build was immensely similar to Wembanyama's — minus a few inches. He wasn't the star he is today, but he also wasn't as built as he is now. In fact, he has one of the most talked about "glow ups" out of any player in the NBA.

If Wembanyama becomes anything like Giannis, size wise, like he at his entry-point, San Antonio has truly found its guy. Since entering the league, the Bucks superstar has made the NBA's All-Defense team five times, an All-NBA team seven times and won the Finals with Milwaukee, picking up the Finals MVP award on top of that. 

That's not even mentioning Antetokounmpo's back-to-back MVPs with the Bucks — an achievement that would quickly put Wembanyama among the league's top players, though it would take quite a bit of work, which the 19-year-old is no stranger to.

"Victor's got a body that I think he could put some muscle on," The Athletic continued. "I'm sure he's going to have some growing pains because he's thin, and the NBA can be a physical league. Let's give him a little bit of time, but the sky's the limit."

Growing pains or not, Wembanyama will undoubtedly look to muscle up in the early years of his career. Holmgren and Porzingis — two of his other NBA comparisons — have shown what happens when maintaining health doesn't headline a player's priority list. Porzingis has not lived up to the unicorn level of success that many thought he would, and Holmgren has yet to play a full season in the NBA. 

The Spurs are just a day away from officially bringing Wembanyama home, and if they play their cards right, officially beginning the next chapter of San Antonio success.

They'll just need to grow alongside their future star.

The 2023 NBA Draft is set for Thursday at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Coverage on ESPN will begin at 7 p.m. CST. 

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Matt Guzman
MATT GUZMAN

Matt Guzman is a sports journalist and storyteller from Austin, Texas. He serves as a credentialed reporter and site manager for San Antonio Spurs On SI and a staff writer for multiple collegiate sites in the same network. In the world of professional sports, he is a firm believer that athletes are people, too, and intends to tell stories of players and teams’ true, behind-the-scenes character that otherwise would not be seen through strong narrative writing, hooking ledes and passionate words.

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