Spurs Rookie Victor Wembanyama Has 'Elite Basketball IQ'
No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama made his Summer League debut with the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night.
While the counting stats and efficiency didn't favor Wembanyama, that's not how coaching staffs and team members measure success in Summer League.
“With all the outside stuff, and now the first time playing with his teammates. You can see his basketball IQ is elite,” Spurs Summer League coach Matt Nielsen said.
The defense was there for Wembanyama. He was able to cover plenty of ground on pick-and-rolls and was aware on that end of the court. As the 19-year-old gains more and more experience, he will only grow in that aspect.
Wembanyama's passing is another aspect of his game that stood out in his Summer League debut. While only three assists showed up in the stat sheet, Wembanyama's passing can't be measured by stats, yet. In Summer League, his teammates aren't always going to convert easy bumps or knock down three-pointers, but to see him make the right play is encouraging for Spurs fans.
Though the 7-4 big man showed plenty of flashes, his shooting efficiency wasn't great. He shot 2-of-13 from the field and 1-of-6 on three-pointers. However, it was encouraging to see Wembanyama continue and shoot the ball with confidence, and that's something that will correct itself come regular season.
Wembanyama also had eight rebounds and five blocks in the Summer League win over the Charlotte Hornets. Again, his defensive rotations were well-timed and he covered plenty of ground, and that was measured in the stat sheet with his blocks.
Considering the Spurs want to play Wembanyama at the forward position alongside a center, it was encouraging to see him use his handle on the perimeter. He was able to drive by defenders to either find a look at the rim or set up a teammate for layup, too.
When Wembanyama gets comfortable and settles into the system, his high-level defense combined with his offensive tools will help him make a case to win Rookie of the Year.
You can follow Kade Kimble on Twitter @KadeKimble.
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