San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama fell short of an NBA title during his first playoff run. However, his postseason dominance placed him in rare company alongside two of the NBA’s all-time greats.
Wembanyama averaged 23.8 points, 10.9 rebounds and 3.5 blocks across 22 appearances during the playoffs. He joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Hakeem Olajuwon as the only players ever to average those numbers and reach the finals during a single postseason.
Wembanyama accomplished the feat at 22 years old. Meanwhile, Abdul-Jabbar was 32 when he did it in 1979-80, and Olajuwon was 31 when he did it in 1993-94.
Yet, Wembanyama’s youth was evident during the Spurs’ numerous late-game collapses against the New York Knicks.
How can Victor Wembanyama take next step after NBA Finals loss?
The Spurs center shot 12-of-35 from the field in the fourth quarter during the finals. While Abdul-Jabbar had the sky hook and Olajuwon had the dream shake, Wembanyama does not yet have a go-to move offensively.
Following the Spurs’ finals loss, Iman Shumpert said Wembanyama should seek out another all-time great big man, Tim Duncan, for guidance.
“[Wemby] wasn’t ready. I know if they haven’t already, this is your year [to work with] with Tim Duncan,” Shumpert said on The Hoop Collective podcast. “It’s time to sit down with Tim Duncan for the whole summer and understand how to get to something. How to have a plan that nobody can do anything about… These playoffs should have taught him that in the middle of these games, there’s gonna be that circus moment where everything’s spinning, and everything’s blurry, and in all that chaos, I’m gonna be the guy that gets right here and shoots this shot. He’s gonna have to watch Dirk [Nowitzki], you’re gonna have to watch some Kobe [Bryant]. Go watch some Tim Duncan.”
Wembanyama will return next season alongside talented young guards Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle. The Spurs’ ability to return to the finals next season could hinge on his development as a late-game offensive engine.
The post Victor Wembanyama ends first playoff run in exclusive club with Kareem, Hakeem appeared first on ClutchPoints.
