Collet asks for patience with Wembanyama: “He’s only been in the NBA for a few weeks”

“Eight defeats in a row (now it’s nine...) It’s not him alone, it’s his team. We need to put it into perspective; it’s the beginning of the season. Beyond that, he’s averaging nearly 20 points and close to 10 rebounds. From a statistical point of view, it’s still consistent for a first year. Afterwards, when we know Victor well and we know the expectations around him, he must continue to rise”. Vincent Collet, the France coach since 2009, is one of the most authoritative voices to talk about Victor Wembanyama, whom he coached last season (he was expressly signed for that) at Metropolitans 92 and who he will coach, if nothing strange happens, in the next Olympic Games (in Paris, precisely, in which Wemby will make his debut at the first level of FIBA teams.

Wemby’s numbers

Collet is following the promising French star in his debut year in the NBA with great attention - a Wembanyama whose is tipped to completely transform the game. But beginnings are not usually easy, and San Antonio Spurs (the team that ended up with the number 1 pick in the last draft) is struggling. The Spurs are currently 3-11 the worst record in the West. That losing streak now stands at nine in a row after last night’s 99-124 defeat to the Clippers. Wemby averages 18.6 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.6 blocks. Very good numbers for a rookie, of course, but with some blips at the beginning of the year: 3.6 losses per night and very poor shooting percentages: 42.4% from the field, 26, 9% in threes...

At the ‘NBA Extra Show’, in France, Collet evaluated this beginning of his ex-pupil in the United States: “What disappoints me a little is his shooting percentage. For me, that’s not enough for a player like him. There are various factors at play, including how he’s served by his teammates. They should be providing him with more opportunities for easier baskets, which could boost his shooting percentage. I was looking at LeBron James, who is at 58%, and Kevin Durant, who also shoots a lot from a distance, is at 52%. There is really room for improvement for him. I believe it will balance out. Decision-making is crucial, as taking better shots increases the likelihood of making them. Progress is needed in these areas.”

Strong in defense

But Collet goes further and points to other problems that are appearing in recent games. “There is also the connection with his team mates. Against Sacramento, he took 26 shots and made zero assists. For me, it’s embarrassing. But you also have to be patient, the NBA season only started four weeks ago. Moving beyond the offensive stats, his impact on defense is evident. When he is on the court and when he is not there, the defensive level of the Spurs is not the same. This was already the case at the Metropolitans 92 at the start of the season last year. His domination was often noticed more on the defensive side than on the offensive end. After all, we are always fascinated by his abilities. Every game, there are two or three remarkable plays that shift our perception of the match. Yet, it’s on the defensive end where he truly shines, acting as a deterrent that few players can replicate. Comparing him to [Oklahoma City Thunder’s 21-year-old center, Chet] Holmgren, there is a difference in level between the two”.

Holmgren’s superb start

It is true that Wembanyama seems to play too far from the rim, managing possessions on the outside a lot, although a priori it is near the rim where he is totally unstoppable. The Spurs do not have a top-level point guard and in fact they are trying a forward like Jeremy Sochan, whom Gregg Popovich is interested in. has insisted on becoming a playmaker. With very discreet results for now. The Texans are disorganized, especially in the last quarters, and have already stamped in four games in which they had amassed leads of at least 17 points. The peaks of Wembanyama are dazzling, and his ceiling remains infinite. But he is lacking efficiency and consistency in a team that does not help him either - the Spurs are still very far from being a competitive block at NBA level. For this reason, and in the comparison that Collet suggests, for now the favorite for Rookie of the Year is Chet Holmgren, the exceptional Thunder center who was number 2 in the draft in 2022 but fired blanks his first full season due to a foot injury.