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Nikola Vucevic details how tricky it is to match up against Victor Wembanyama
Now playing in his 13th year in the NBA, Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic has gone up against his fair share of talented big men. However, in a recent interview following their 114-95 win over the San Antonio Spurs, Vucevic shared that one opponent has stood out: 19-year-old French phenom Victor Wembanyama.
Better than expected
Although Wembanyama didn’t have as good a game as the last time these two teams met, finishing with only seven points, five assists, and four rebounds, Vooch said the Frenchman is as good as advertised and would only get better as he adjusts to how physical opponents are going to be with him.
“At that size, it’s tricky because that’s what guys are going to do, play him physically, but I think he’s better than I thought he would be with that, for sure,” Vucevic said.
Vucevic added that Wembanyama’s strength has stood out the most for him. Long and wiry players don’t often have the strength to bang in the post, but Wembanyama has shown he’s not afraid of contact and can hold his own against bigger opponents.
“He’s stronger than I thought he would be. He’s got a pretty strong base for that size, which is hard at 7-4. He’s pretty stable, and he’s just able to turn around and just shoot over people,” Vucevic shared.
Get more experienced
While strength is always a huge factor in playing in the low post, experience and guile are also crucial. Vucevic emphasized the importance of gaining experience and learning from veteran players. The youngster already has the length and soft shooting touch, but learning how to use his physical gifts effectively will only make him a more dominant player.
“As he gets older and stronger, starts figuring out his body, I don’t think it’s going to be a big issue for him. Nobody has everything, and you can’t match his size and his length, so it’s definitely a tricky matchup,” Vucevic stated.
