More than eight months after his last game, Victor Wembanyama will return to the court on Wednesday, October 22, accompanied by ever-growing expectations at the start of his third NBA season.
“I’m already ready, I’m at 100%,” Wembanyama assured last week after a preseason game, a period that allowed him to regain some of his on-court instincts during five matchups marked by a few spectacular plays and obvious new physical power.
He took the time to heal
Eight months after being diagnosed with a venous thrombosis in his shoulder, which occurred upon returning from his first All-Star Game selection, the 21-year-old Frenchman took the time to heal, satisfy his curiosity (a retreat at a Shaolin temple in China, a visit to NASA…), and then experience “a world-class summer” dedicated to “brutal” training, without joining the French national team for the Basketball EuroBasket.
He faces the Mavericks in Dallas on Wednesday, for a first matchup against the young Cooper Flagg (18 years old), who is also anticipated as a basketball phenom.
This long absence has not dampened the expectations surrounding Wembanyama, whose statistics were on the rise before his stoppage (24.3 points, 11 rebounds, 3.8 blocks in 46 games). On the contrary, his name now appears in the race for the MVP trophy.
Two of the thirty NBA franchise managers cited him in the traditional preseason survey as the future best player in the league next spring, as many votes as the reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander received, and trailing the favorite Nikola Jokic (20 votes).
“He can finish top of every existing statistical category”
For Carmelo Anthony too, a new member of the North American league’s Hall of Fame, “Wemby” will be MVP at the end of his 3rd season. “He can finish top of every existing statistical category. He could average 25 points, 15 rebounds, 5 blocks, why not 12 assists, 6 steals, these are video game numbers, we’ve never seen a player like him,” the 41-year-old former scorer enthused on the “7PM in Brooklyn” podcast.
Another symbol of his new aura, Wembanyama worked periodically this summer with two glorious former players: Rockets legend Hakeem Olajuwon, known for his unique moves near the basket, and ex-Celtic Kevin Garnett, the 2008 champion renowned for his charisma and toughness.
The number 1 pick of the 2023 draft and 2024 Rookie of the Year will also be judged on his ability to make his team win, which seems to have strengthened enough to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2019, following a 13th place finish in the West last spring with 34 wins and 48 losses.
The return of “Wemby” must propel the Spurs: “His growth process as a player and our team’s process are intimately linked,” reminded his coach Mitch Johnson, who has taken over from Gregg Popovich.