Spurs' Victor Wembanyama 'Ultimate Ceiling': Can He Stay Healthy?

In this three-part series, we'll look into what will get San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama to his ultimate ceiling.

Between his shooting ability, his ball-handling skills and elite defense under the rim, San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama's on-court skills are unlike anything the NBA has ever seen before. 

Off the court, the rookie has also proven to be level-headed, well-spoken and truly interested in improving and helping his new team in whatever way he can.

But if that wasn't enough, he's shown all of those things without having played a single regular-season game. And that says a lot.

The Wembanyama hype isn't going to subside anytime soon — unless, of course, he completely underperforms for the entire season — and even then, it'd take a while for his name to be talked about less frequently.

There's also a world where Wemby fulfills these expectations and reaches his "ultimate ceiling."

"If [Wembanyama] reaches his ultimate ceiling — which could be something like 90 percent of Rudy Gobert on defense and 80-85 percent of Kevin Durant on offense — he'll go down as an all-time great," Bleacher Report writes. "That outcome isn't guaranteed, and there may be a longer adjustment period than some expect, but on upside alone, Wembanyama is one of the best prospects ever."

San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama grabs a rebound in a Las Vegas Summer League game / © Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports

In this three-part series, we'll look into what will get Wembanyama there and how the Spurs will play a part.

The biggest ability is availability, and Wemby will have to stay healthy first and foremost.

San Antonio's face-of-the-franchise can score and impact the ball on defense as much as he wants, but not if he isn't in the game.

Being a rookie, Wembanyama won't get as many minutes as some of the Spurs' veterans. Players like Keldon Johnson and even Devin Vassell might see more game action, but that also doesn't mean Wembanyama won't. He will play a significant role in San Antonio's offense this season, which makes it all the more important for him to stay healthy.

Luckily for both parties, Wembanyama's personal trainer from his time on Metropolitans 92 is now with the Spurs, bringing his workout routines and recovery processes with him.

Plus, he's only held high praise for the 19-year-old's own interest in his health.

"[Wembanyama] wants to improve," Spurs trainer Guillaume Alquier said. "He's really focused, trying to understand everything [we do]. ... His body is not finished, so the principal part of my work is to [help him] adapt."

If Wembanyama comes out of the gate running, he could very well put the NBA world more on notice than it already is, which also says a lot. Playing well and remaining in the game will be equally as important to the rookie reaching his "ultimate ceiling," though if Wembanyama has proven anything to this point, it's that he knows that.