By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Los Angeles Clippers forward and eight-time NBA All-Star Paul George gave his perspective on how Victor Wembanyama’s mobility makes him stand out among any other big man of his size and make him particularly special and unpredictable as well.
Here’s what George said on Wemby during the latest episode of the ” Podcast P,” reflecting on when he faced him during a Clippers‘ 123 – 83 win over the San Antonio Spurs:
“This isn’t the first time we see a player of his size. There’s Boban [Marjanovic], there’s Bol Bol, there’s [Kristaps] Porzingis. I didn’t play in that era but there was also Manute [Bol] or Shawn Bradley, Yao Ming. What stands out with him is that you’re used to seeing them in the paint, used seeing the bigs, the 7-footers just sitting at the rim. And you’re like, I got to choose my s–t wisely when I’m going on the rim. But he’s in the perimeter. He’s dribbling it in transition. He’s in the rim, he’s not at the rim. You’re always looking to him where he’s at.
That’s what stood out when we played him. He had a play against Russ [Westbrook] when Russ went to the paint and that’s his patent. He’ll get to the paint, skip, kind of survey the floor. And I’m watching him and this like… long-ass arm comes and tips the ball from behind. You could tell Russ was like… “Who the f–k hit the ball.” And the ball went flying, it was a steal. It even looked like his arms stretched and just got to it.
From that point on going in the game, even coming off shooting, mid-range shots, he’ll be in the corner but I’ll shoot it, and then as I’m following through I see his arm is right here next to me and I’m like… WTF. Is it a bad pass I thought he was guarding the corner that’s why I thought it was open. He was just doing certain s–t on the court and I’m like… “God he’s in every play”
A guy his size has a specific matchup. You’re not going to have anybody pick up Victor. If he runs on the floor 9 times out of 10 he’s going to get a mismatch.
I think the success we had in the post-ups was forcing him out and bodying him out.”
Wembanyama had 11 points on 4-10 shots plus five rebounds over 22 minutes in that blowout loss to the Clippers. George finished the game with 19 points, five assists and five steals.
In his debut NBA season, Wembanyama is averaging team-highs 20.5 points and 8.0 rebounds, along with 2.7 blocks and 2.0 assists, spending 30.2 minutes on the floor.