Victor Wembanyama's Olympic Struggles: Why the Spurs Should NOT Play Two Bigs

During France's close overtime win against the scrappy underdogs from Japan in the Paris Olympics, Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama went through a familiar pattern, which he needs to break for the upcoming NBA season.

The 7'4 superstar started the game on fire, quickly scoring eight points, including a couple of three-pointers, only to vanish until the overtime frame, where he dominated by scoring another eight points to bring home the win. In-between those explosions, he managed just two points, finishing with his grand total of 18 for the night.

Some of that wasn't necessarily on Wembanyama himself, as France is short on playmakers who can get him the ball in advantageous positions. Head coach Vincent Collet had the young phenom catch the ball further away from the basket than was probably optimal, forcing Wembanyama to make something out of nothing.

However, what was on Wembanyama was how often he'd slide into the background, giving way to, for example, Rudy Gobert who during the Olympics has struggled to catch the ball effectively, and has gotten stripped on entry passes.

Wembanyama, who is a far more stable ball-handler than his fellow countryman, not only needs to be put in a position to be more consistent throughout the flow of the game, but he also needs to stop clearing the way for others, when he so clearly is the team's best option.

This was something the 20-year-old struggled with during the first half of his rookie season as well. There are times when he seems to not fully comprehend his own advantages, and how crucial he is to team success. He'll float, not because of a lack of interest or out of boredom, but due his unselfish nature of wanting to have everyone including.

While commendable, Wembanyama has to understand that he can have it both ways. A basketball game is long, and there's plenty of time for him to both assert himself, and get others involved. During the game against Japan, he should probably have finished with a point-total in the mid-30's given his start, and that would have saved them the scare of overtime.

Alternatively, his success in the added five minutes could serve as a necessary reminder, to himself, just how important - and how good - he is.

Going into Year 2 with the San Antonio Spurs, Wembanyama is sure to catch hellfire from his new teammate, point guard Chris Paul, if this pattern of his emerges again.

(It's not even inconceivable that the former All-NBA superstar has already sent him a text message or two, telling Wembanyama what's what.)

Of course, there is the other side of that coin.

Wembanyama is developing, rapidly, as a playmaker. His passing instincts are much further ahead than most people thought they'd be. He reads defenses quickly, and spots angles like a genuine point guard.

It's important he doesn't get tunnel vision and begins to pull the scoring trigger to a point where his court vision is compromised - just as it's important he doesn't get tunnel vision as a passer, foregoing shots within the flow of the offense.

Is it unfair to put all of this at the feet of a 20-year-old?

Probably a little, yes. But it goes to show just how unfathomable he is as a talent. Usually, it takes years for any player to be as important, and as crucial to winning, as he is. But he was this important by the time he was just 19 years old.

For Collet, and Gregg Popovich, both need to strike the same line of understanding how young he is, while also making sure he understands how he's already too good to go through games like a ghost.

Funneling shots and playmaking duties Wembanyama's way is fine, as long as Wembanyama himself doesn't feel overburdened. And that's where communication becomes a crucial element.

The Spurs Can Learn from France's Struggles

The San Antonio Spurs can learn a lot from the challenges Team France has faced when Victor Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert are on the court together. While they form a defensive powerhouse, their offensive spacing leaves much to be desired. As Spurs fans and the coaching staff look forward to the upcoming NBA season, these lessons are crucial for getting the most out of Wembanyama and the team's offense.

The main issue Team France has run into is the cramped offensive spacing when both Wemby and Gobert—who isn't known for his shooting—play at the same time. Gobert is an incredible defender and rebounder, but his lack of an outside shot clogs the paint and limits driving lanes for Wembanyama and others. This forces the offense to operate in a tighter, more congested space, making it less effective overall.

Coach Vincent Collet of Team France has been trying out different lineups with both Wembanyama and Gobert, giving us a real-time look at how this setup works. The defensive benefits are clear: Gobert's shot-blocking and rebounding pair perfectly with Wembanyama's versatility, creating a strong defensive front. However, the offensive struggles are reminiscent of the ones the Spurs experienced at the beginning of Wemby's rookie season when Zach Collins started.

The Spurs can use these insights to shape their own strategies. While San Antonio doesn’t have a player exactly like Gobert, they could consider pairing Wembanyama with a defensive-minded, non-shooting center. The trick will be to balance the defensive advantages with the need for better spacing on offense and determine whether the tradeoff is worth it.

Even though international courts are a bit smaller than NBA courts, the athleticism of NBA players negates some of those size advantages, and Wembanyama needs room to operate effectively. As the Spurs move forward, understanding and addressing these spacing issues will be key to making the most of Wembanyama’s incredible talent and ensuring the team’s success.

Wembanyama is the Best Player on the Team, Don't Let Any List Tell You Otherwise

Team France completed their exhibition games in a finale against Australia that came down to the wire. San Antonio Spurs family friend Patty Mills led his team to a one-point victory over Victor Wembanyama's squad with 24 points. Victor filled up the stat sheet with 17 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists and one block, but it wasn't enough to lift his team to victory.

However, it was enough to solidify one thing that should have been obvious since the construction of the team: Wembanyama is their best player. Five of their six exhibition games were streamed on official NBA channels like YouTube, and if you watched the games, there was no doubt who made the largest impact on a play-to-play basis. It makes the decision to list Rudy Gobert above Wemby on any list—let alone an Olympic list where they are on the same team, making it easier than ever to see the disparity in talent—ridiculous at best.

@SBNation ranks the top 50 basketball players in the Olympics. The top 10 are:1. Nikola Jokic2. Giannis Antetokounmpo3. SGA4. Stephen Curry5. LeBron James6. Kevin Durant7. Joel Embiid8. Rudy Gobert9. Anthony Davis10. Jayson Tatum

Victor Wembanyama comes in at #11

In Victor's first Olympic action against Turkey, he put up 24 points and six rebounds while dishing out four assists, getting one steal and rejecting three shots. Gobert is a very good player, but there's nothing wrong with not being the best on the team. He doesn't command a double team, drawing the attention that Wemby does on offense, and despite the results of the Defensive Player of the Year award, Vic is a better defender.

There is no world in which Gobert should be ranked higher than Victor Wembanyama on any list. He has been nicknamed "The Alien" for a reason. Stop trying to fight the wave and ride it; life will be easier.