Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports activities
2023-24 stats: 20.8 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 3.5 apg, 3.5 bpg, 46.7 FGpercentGlobal score rating: 77th general
Since 1979-80, solely 4 gamers have made an All-NBA crew of their rookie season, all of them legends and all first-ballot Corridor-of-Famers. These names are Larry Chook, Michael Jordan, David Robinson and Tim Duncan. Coincidentally sufficient, the rookie who’s had the strongest shot to earn All-NBA honors in fairly a while is one other San Antonio Spurs large man, Victor Wembanyama.
Some elements are hurting Wembanyama’s case, nevertheless, regardless of his particular person brilliance, which has shone much more brightly of late, with the previous No. 1 choose averaging 22.7 factors, 11.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.6 steals and 4.6 blocks on 36.9 % capturing from three over his final 14 video games.
For starters, his Spurs are 15-53, the third-worst file within the NBA this yr. It’s powerful to fault Wembanyama for that however it’s the actuality. Moreover, a few of the superior stats don’t love his output, because the French native sits one hundred and thirty fifth in Win Shares this yr and 131st in Win Shares/48 Minutes. (He does rank roughly within the High 20 of each BPM and VORP, although.)
As well as, Wembanyama missed out on receiving All-Star honors this season, giving him a fair greater mountain to climb so far as getting named to an All-NBA crew, because it turns into harder to obtain the latter honor in campaigns you missed out on the previous.
Previously 10 seasons, solely seven gamers have made an All-NBA crew in a yr they weren’t an All-Star: Jimmy Butler, Pascal Siakam, Rudy Gobert, DeAndre Jordan, Damian Lillard, Goran Dragic and Al Jefferson.
None of them have been rookies.
Moreover, not solely have been all of them veterans but additionally on groups that had profitable information by yr’s finish, which means Wembanyama would actually be bucking the development if he have been capable of pull off All-NBA standing in his first season.
The actual fact we’re even contemplating the chance simply speaks to how good the massive French shot-blocker has been as a rookie, and to the ceiling he has. We’re most likely taking a look at a future MVP right here and at a participant who ought to have a number of 1st Staff All-NBAs to his credit score by the point he retires.
For Victor Wembanyama’s contract and wage data, click on right here.
