Surprise Wembanyama stats hint at an underrated aspect of his game

When San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama was selected first overall in last year's NBA draft, there wasn't much mystery to his game. He was the most hyped NBA prospect in recent memory and his game was heavily scouted, with most focusing on his size, potential as a shooter, and as a defensive player.

He's shown that skill with the Spurs thus far this season but one under-the-radar aspect that has caught many by surprise is his passing ability. His size obviously allows him to see the floor better than most and he can easily pass over the top of opposing defenders, but that is only one aspect of it.

Not every big man can pass the way that Wembanyama can. He can hit players on the other side of the court for threes, attack a closeout and hit a teammate with a bounce pass for an easy layup, or face up and drop a pass into a back-door cutter for a quick basket.

That is exciting but also historic because Wembanyama has a chance to do something as a rookie that only Hakeem Olajuwon has ever done.

Wembanyama's underrated playmaking ability puts him in rare air.

According to Spurs Muse, Wembanyama is on pace to become the first rookie ever and the only player other than Olajuwon to average 3.5 assists and 3.5 blocks per game. Most fans probably didn't even realize that it was a real stat. Wembanyama is already on track to do something only a top-15 player of all-time has done, once again proving that he has a bright future ahead of him.

He'll not only be a top-tier rim protector but also an elite passer. As Wembanyama improves as a scorer and the Spurs add more shooting, his playmaking will only become more of an asset and make him all the more dangerous.