Despite playing for the Golden State Warriors, outspoken forward Draymond Green has often had positive things to say about the San Antonio Spurs. Although Green might not be everyone's cup of tea, he's honest. So much so that he recently brought up a valid concern about the Spurs' number one overall pick, Victor Wembanyama, on Paul George's "Podcast P" podcast. Take a look.
Green does have a point about Wembanyama's height, particularly after he recently measured out at 7'3 1/2 without shoes. That makes him the tallest player in the NBA and one of the tallest in league history. However, he is still only 19, and it's not impossible to think that he could still be growing.
Victor Wembanyama is an unprecedented prospect for the Spurs
If that is indeed the case, both he and the Spurs would be entering uncharted territory. Only one player 7'3 or taller has gone on to have a long and successful career in the NBA, and if Wembanyama continues to grow, that could decrease his chances of being the second. Being 7'3 is one thing, but imagine if he grows another inch.
That would put him north of 7'4 without shoes, and while the possibilities are endless, so too are the risks. Not counting Yao Ming, who, while great at his peak, only played 486 games, the only other player that big to carve out a long NBA career was Mark Eaton. Eaton was a dominant defensive player during the 1980s for the Utah Jazz and was also listed at 7'4, but he and Wembanyama are completely different players.
Despite his size, Wembanyama will both play and guard more on the perimeter than Eaton ever did. That means a lot more jump shots and a lot more lateral movement, and one wrong step could lead to disaster. Thankfully, Zaza Pauchulia is out of the NBA, but still. Fortunately, Wembanyama and his trainers have worked to try and mitigate that risk. Be that as it may, Green's concerns are still valid and shared by many Spurs fans.