San Antonio Spurs: Victor Wembanyama's Efficiency Problem
The biggest point of criticism of Victor Wembanyama during his rookie season has been his general lack of scoring efficiency.
It's a fair point, when you dig into the numbers.
While Wembanyama connects on 74.3% within three feet of the basket — a number that frighteningly should increase as he develops — he's struggling further out on the floor, connecting on just 30.1% of his triples, 35.3% on shots from 16 feet and to the 3-point line, and sits uncomfortably low in the 3-10 feet area at 43.6% accuracy.
This is where Spurs fans, accurately, will point out that the Spurs are letting Wembanyama figure himself out. And that's true. Head coach Gregg Popovich has made that point clear numerous times. The idea is, quite simply, to let Wembanyama identify his own success areas, while slowly building himself in other areas.
It's not a bad plan when the player in question is as mature and intelligent as Wembanyama has proven himself to be. He doesn't need to hold hands with the coaching staff to know he misses more shots than he makes from certain spots on the floor.
Curiously, however, the rookie seems to struggle with open looks. He's connecting on just 38.3% on wide-open looks (closest defender being 6-plus feet away), and the percentage seems to increase the closer a defender is guarding him. A significant portion of the wide-open looks, it needs to be noted, comes from the outside. As effective as Wembanyama has been around the rim, he's outright still a project as a shooter.
Fortunately, his 81.3% free throw accuracy is encouraging, and given that he grew up as a shooter, the Spurs have every reason to remain optimistic.
But while efficiency has been Wembanyama's blackest eye, context, as always, is needed.
There isn't a single ball-handler on the Spurs that ever warrants a double-team. There isn't a single ball-handler on the Spurs who can routinely create their own look from long-range.
As such, the burden of creation has fallen far too often on the rookie himself.
22.8% of Wembanyama's total shot attempts are self-created perimeter pull-ups, a number that, in a vacuum, is way too high. But given that the Spurs are still feeling out their big prize, don't expect that number to drop, at least not substantially.
Which brings me to this: It's almost impossible to put all of Wembanyama's efficiency issues at his own feet. You can make a reasonable argument that he should be better when taking wide-open shots — that argument would be both fair, and accurate — but his shot diet is heavily influenced by the lack of a multifaceted guard.
Tre Jones is doing an admirable job getting Wembanyama involved, but his lack of shooting prowess closes off space for the big man, and allows defenses to chest off Jones.
Devin Vassell, a fluid shot-maker with range, doesn't have the on-ball chops to get Wembanyama involved. At least not yet.
The Spurs need a trade. And they need a specific one. Tre's older brother, Tyus, currently with the Washington Wizards.
Tyus is basically Tre, but with a reliable outside shot and more experience. He pushes the tempo, keeps the ball alive, and isn't afraid to make off-angled passes. Defenders who cheat off of Tyus will get burned if they leave him open from behind the arc.
Wembanyama needs the final months of his rookie season to be all about optimization, before he heads into summer, and later into Year 2. That optimization won't come from within.
Unless noted otherwise, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball-Reference. All salary information via Spotrac. All odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.
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