As the NBA 2024-25 season kicks off, all eyes are on Victor Wembanyama, the towering talent for the San Antonio Spurs. His presence on the court promises excitement, yet his early performances leave room for reflection and growth.
Early Season Struggles
Wembanyama's debut this season has been met with some challenges. Over the first three games, he converted just six of his 24 jump shots, coupled with a lackluster record of hitting only four out of 18 three-point attempts. These figures highlight a rough start for the athlete who joined the Spurs amidst high expectations. Wembanyama himself has acknowledged these early struggles, attributing them not to conditioning but to finding his rhythm. “The conditioning is not an excuse. For the missed shots ... it's just taking shots in rhythm. That's the most important for me,” he said, asserting his belief in his capability across all areas of the court.
Performance in Context
This isn't the first time Wembanyama has faced shooting challenges. Following last season's All-Star break, his jump shot accuracy stood at 31%, and he achieved a slightly better 33% success rate from beyond the arc. This history indicates a pattern that Wembanyama and the Spurs' coaching staff will need to address as the season progresses.
International Achievements
On the international stage, Wembanyama led the French national team to a silver medal at the Paris Olympics. Despite the team's overall success, his personal three-point shooting over the tournament was a modest 28%. These statistics further reveal the inconsistency that currently defines his shooting game.
NBA’s Increasing Three-Point Frenzy
As the NBA increasingly embraces the three-point shot, Wembanyama and his team must adapt and integrate better performances from this critical area. This season, nine teams are averaging over 40 three-point attempts per game, with the Boston Celtics leading the trend last season with an average of 42.5 attempts. Such trends underscore the importance of three-point efficiency in modern basketball strategy.
Anthony Edwards, for instance, exemplifies this focus on long-range shooting, with a significant uptick in his three-point attempts from 6.7 to over 13 per game, achieving an impressive 41.5% conversion rate so far. Meanwhile, Karl-Anthony Towns maintains a career average of 40% from the three-point line, with a remarkable start this season hitting 66% of his six attempts per game. These performances are benchmarks for Wembanyama as he seeks to elevate his game.
Fellow Players in Focus
Towns, however, has noted a reduction in his overall shot attempts, dropping from 15.3 to 9.3 per game this season. This strategic change prompts teammates to adapt their roles on the court. Jalen Brunson remarked on this dynamic, saying, "It's on me as a teammate to make sure we're all on the same page and that everyone's eating. I've got to be better when it comes to that. I've got to adjust, and I've got to see [Towns]." His words reflect a necessity for cohesion and adaptation, not only for Towns but applicable to any team aiming for success.
As Wembanyama navigates his first full season with the Spurs, he deals with the pressure of expectations both from his franchise and from the passionate fans. His journey is only just beginning, but his initial performances indicate that fostering rhythm and synergy with his squad could unlock his full potential. For now, both he and the Spurs can look to teams and players who have successfully harnessed the three-point skill as a blueprint for future improvement. How Victor Wembanyama adapts to this high-stakes, fast-evolving game will be a narrative worth watching as the season moves forward.