Revealing stat proves Wembanyama’s critics are only half right

Victor Wembanyama's shot selection has been the source of much criticism this season. The 7-footer shoots threes at a rate similar to Steph Curry, and it baffles the viewers who believe he should be dominating on the inside. A faction of the Spurs fan base has defended Wemby's long-distance shooting, and a recently researched stat only slightly makes that stance more difficult.

Wembanyama's 3-point attempts have skyrocketed this season

It's hard to argue that there isn't at least some merit to the notion that a man as large as Wembanyama should be taking more shots inside than outside. However, there's a nuanced reason for Vic's shot selection, and he's increased his attempts from beyond the arc recently.

That's where some ground can be given because, over the last five games, the sophomore is averaging 12 three-pointers per game. When the criticisms began, he was sitting around eight per outing. But he's hitting 44% over that five-game span, and that's where the merit to the criticisms gets murky.

This is a 3-point shooting league—acting like it's not is unreasonable. The best teams will knock down a lot of them, and the Spurs tried trading 2-for-3 during the DeMar DeRozan/LaMarcus Aldridge days. That didn't work out very well. Boston decimated teams with the long ball last season on their way to a championship. The game is not going in the other direction.

The common sentiment is that nobody can stop Wemby in the paint, and some of that is true. He's shooting 81% in the restricted area. But Giannis Antetokounmpo is another unstoppable force in the paint, yet the Bucks have struggled in big moments for years because their best player hasn't been much of a threat from the perimeter. But that's not the only factor.

Wembanyama is already proving himself to be a competent shooter. There's no reason to force him into the paint to bang with stronger players who are desperate to keep him from the basket and will sacrifice their bodies to do so. San Antonio is playing it safe with his health, so any injuries could result in multiple games missed for the NBA's Slenderman. That's the last thing fans want.

There's a process taking place as he evolves, getting better and filling out his frame to become a more sturdy player. His three-point shooting has influenced defenses already. They're biting on his pump fake harder than ever and allowing the Alien to drive into less impeded lanes, forcing panicked rotations that lead to open shots for his teammates.

So, maybe he shouldn't be taking 12 threes a game—it's quite a large jump from the 5.5 he averaged last season—but eight isn't an egregious number these days. He's still commanding double teams and making defenses pay. It just looks different in the year 2024 than it did in 2004, and that's okay.