Glaring Victor Wembanyama development devastates Timberwolves' defense

There's a lot to be excited about when talking about Victor Wembanyama's impact on the court, but one thing that doesn't get mentioned enough is his playmaking. His five assists in San Antonio's Game 5 victory tied his playoff career-high.

It's easy to get caught up in the defensive havoc that Wemby causes, along with a scoring arsenal that doesn't make sense for a 7'4" guy. Those things are obviously great, but his ability to find teammates was a difference maker tonight for the Spurs.

Victor's forced critics to recognize his all-around impact throughout the season, and the masterclass he put on in Game 5 is an extension of that.

This isn't exactly a surprise for Wemby

Pundits may not include Victor's playmaking ability in their discourse as much, but it's not some brand-new phenomenon. He averages 3.5 assists per night for his career, and tonight was the second time in the playoffs that he posted five in a single game.

When he has the ball in his hands, he's aware of the gravity and attention he creates, and he takes advantage of it. Wemby can attract defenders while getting downhill, and his elite instincts lead him to finding teammates either on the perimeter or for dump-off passes inside.

He's also very creative with his feeds. In the second half, he had a play where he pump-faked Rudy Gobert, palmed the ball with his off hand, then threw a slick pitch to Julian Champagnie off of a backdoor cut for an easy finish at the rim. Even Dylan Harper was impressed.

Wemby is continuing to unlock his potential

Tonight's performance was a peek into Victor Wembanyama's future. Not only can he become the best two-way player in basketball, but he can also be the most complete player in the league.

He checked every single box in this game. He scored 27 points on efficient shooting and was solid from downtown. He dominated the boards, snatching down a playoff career-high 17 rebounds. He left the Wolves terrified to score in the paint (once again) and blocked three shots. And, obviously, the playmaking skills were glaring with his five assists.

Now, there were things to clean up. He had a few careless plays that resulted in four turnovers, but his all-around production was something no one else in the league could replicate. The list of players who can dominate as scorers, defenders, rebounders, and passers is very thin.

The league is filled with guys who can stand out on a nightly basis in a few of those areas, but checking every single box is a rarity. That's exactly what Wemby did tonight, and it's yet another reason many know he's about to snatch the title as the best player on the planet.

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