2 weeks Ago By Timothy Rapp
Victor Wembanyama is the future. At least on Wednesday night, however, LeBron James and Anthony Davis remained the present. The pair of Los Angeles Lakers superstars led their team to a 117-99 win over Wemby's San Antonio Spurs.
Davis (19 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists) and James (16 points, 11 assists, 10 rebounds) led the Lakers to their 11th win on the season (11-7), holding off a Spurs team that has been surprisingly good this year (10-9). Wembanyama did his part to keep things interesting, posting 20 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks, though rookie first-round pick Stephon Castle struggled from the field (10 points on 3-of-9 shooting, seven assists). It was a fun showdown nonetheless, with the battle between Wemby and the pair of Davis and James the main talking point for NBA fans and pundits alike: Wembanyama still has plenty to work on, of course, some of which was evident on Wednesday night.
His shot selection remains a work in progress, as he at times settles for too many deep threes (2-for-9 against the Lakers) rather than using his length to create mismatches on the block. He's also a work in progress as a creator, with two assists but four turnovers against the Lakers. This is nitpicking, of course—the kid is 20 years old and already one of the most intriguing stars in the NBA.
His upside is astronomical. James, one of the greatest basketball players to ever live, has said as much. "He doesn't have a ceiling," James told reporters last season regarding Wembanyama.
"He can do whatever he wants to do in his career. It seems like he enjoys the game. It seems like he puts the work in, just from the outside looking in.
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I said a long time ago how special he was, and it's really that simple." At some point, the NBA is going to be Wemby's league, much as it has been LeBron's for two decades now. Someday, but not on Wednesday night.
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