Revisiting Wembanyama preseason predictions after history-making rookie season

Preseason prediction: Wembanyama will finish in the top 3 in the NBA in blocks.

Back in August, I made the bold prediction that Wembanyama would rank in the top 3 in blocked shots. Little did I know that he would lead the NBA in blocks by a wide margin, averaging a staggering 3.6 while playing fewer than 30 minutes per game.

While my prediction was based on his block totals playing for Met92 compared to the recent league leaders in the NBA, he was somehow much better than even the most bullish projection. Not just that, but even as teams adjusted by picking their spots more at the rim, he was still able to swat shots at a monster rate.

Only Manute Bol and David Robinson averaged more blocks as rookies. With Wemby presumably playing closer to 32 minutes per game next season, he could conceivably become the first player since Dikembe Mutombo to average four rejections per game. The more minutes he plays next season, the better San Antonio's defense should be, and they were terrific in the minutes he was on the court.

For the Spurs to make strides in the win column, it starts with Wembanyama staying healthy and being a rim deterrent. We already know that he is a terrific shot blocker, but how was his health compared to offseason expectations?

Prediction: Correct