It's Time for Victor Wembanyama to Take Reigns as Center for San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs won their first game in well over a month on Friday night against the Los Angeles Lakers, 129-115. While Devin Vassell led the way for the Spurs and is getting the flowers that he deserves, Victor Wembanyama was at the center of the game, which is to be expected.
In the win, Wembanyama scored 13 points, nabbed 15 rebounds, and recorded two blocks. It was his seventh straight double-double, which ties Dwight Howard’s record for the most in a row by a teenager. The win was Wembanyama’s fourth game as the starting center after Zach Collins moved to the bench. Previously, the two were sharing the frontcourt while Jeremy Sochan ran the point guard spot.
Dec 15, 2023; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson (3) reacts after scoring a three-pointer during the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers at Frost Bank Center.
© Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports
The Spurs have lost three of their last four games, but only one of them was by double-digits. The young Spurs are building chemistry, but having Wembanyama play center is the ideal fit. He’s 7-5, having him in the paint is pretty basic basketball.
Early in the season, the Spurs were very open about experimenting and intended to slot Wemby at power forward.
“Expect him to play power forward, the four position, to start off his NBA career,” said Shams Charania. “And the Spurs will look for Zach Collins to be a guy to provide size next to Victor Wembanyama in the front court."
The Spurs are now 4-20, and it is time to take effective action. Slotting Wembanyama to play center is an easy move to make. During all of his draft hype, it was revealed that he prefers not to play center, but if he is indeed “addicted to winning,” the move shouldn’t phase him too much.
Since moving to center full-time, Wemby is averaging an insane 19.8 points, 16.5 rebounds, and 4.3 blocks. In that stretch, he is six-of-17 from deep, which is better than his season average so far.
On top of Wembanyama’s success, Zach Collins is averaging 10 points and 5.5 rebounds, which is pretty much in line with his season averages so far.
While the Spurs have only won a single game in recent memory, it seems like there is a recipe for success moving forward, and it involves Wembanyama not playing his preferred position. Luckily, he has carried himself with maturity and accepted that the NBA is a win-first league.
