Everybody's got an opinion about what Victor Wembanyama needs to add to his repertoire this offseason. Add Kevin Garnett to that list. The Celtics legend has been outspoken about him all year long, even offering to work out with him this summer. Wemby should take him up on that; sessions with KG could help him further develop his mid-post game.
It's a tradition as old as time: NBA legends taking young stars under their wing to sharpen key aspects of their game. Hakeem Olajuwon is the perfect example. He dedicated offseasons to helping Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwight Howard, Carmelo Anthony, and others take their offense to the next level.
Victor must continue to embrace the OG's who want to work with him. While he's still young, this is a crucial point in his career. His biggest weaknesses were exposed in the NBA Finals, so this is a time for him to get around the right people to fine-tune his game. Garnett is one of the most skilled power forwards to play, so spending time in the lab with him this summer would do wonders.
Kevin Garnett can help Wemby establish himself more on offense
There was something unique about Kevin Garnett's offensive dominance. He knew how to mesh his strength and physicality with touch and finesse to torch defenders. The Big Ticket tussled with defenders, jockeying for position in his favorite spots on the court. Once he got a catch, he was unguardable, deploying a vast array of face-up or back-to-the-basket moves to score.
That makes him the best person for Victor to take notes from this summer. In the Finals, players like Karl-Anthony Towns, Mitchell Robinson, and others found success knocking Wemby around, keeping him from establishing himself in the Spurs' half-court offense.
A few workouts and tips from KG will help Victor bypass this problem against future opponents. There's no doubt he can make those mid-range and post-up baskets, but the key skill to improve is getting to those areas of the court whenever he wants to.
Victor's footwork could improve under Garnett's tutelage
Throughout the season, Wemby showed flashes of brilliance as a mid-post scorer, but the NBA Finals made it apparent that he still needs to tighten up and perfect that aspect of his game. He isn't an elite shot creator just yet.
This is obviously another area KG can help. Not only was he amazing when it came to finding his spots on offense, but he had some of the best footwork of his day. His usage of jab steps and shimmies left defenders bewildered, opening up just enough space to rise and shoot over outstretched arms.
Mastering that creation of space will be even better for Wemby because, at 7'4, it's virtually impossible to block his shot. The worst thing for opponents is giving him even more room to make things happen with the ball in his hands.
Victor's already great right now. His postseason run cemented his spot as a top-five player in the league. But he still needs to get better, and it's all in the details. Refining his offensive game is the key this summer, and with players like Kevin Garnett offering up assistance, he has ample resources to improve in that field.
