Spurs still haven't fully unlocked Victor Wembanyama's playmaking

Despite flirting with the idea of having star Victor Wembanyama do more playmaking, the San Antonio Spurs have yet to fully unlock that part of his game. During the preseason, the Spurs experimented with having him create more from the top of the 3-point line.

However, he has yet to do so consistently this season. Instead, he's been playing more off-ball. In fact, he's bringing the ball up the floor less and posting up less while taking more threes and rolling to the basket more consistently.

That has actually been a good trade-off, with him maximizing his efficiency by focusing on what he does best. Still, he has been frustratingly underutilized as a passer.

Spurs still haven't fully unlocked Victor Wembanyama's playmaking

In limited opportunities, he's shown that he is a very good passer. If given the chance to operate as a playmaker from the top of the key or the 3-point line, ala Tim Duncan or Pau Gasol, he'd no doubt find similar success.

Especially with Wembanyama being able to knock down threes. That forces opposing centers away from the rim and frees up the Spurs' guards to backdoor cut to the basket.

Perhaps coach Mitch Johnson has opted to go away from that strategy, with him already starting three point guards. De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper give him a wealth of playmakers, and he may not see the need to have Wembanyama be the fourth.

The Spurs are finding other ways to maximize Victor Wembanyama

We may not see much point-Wembanyama this season, but that doesn't mean he isn't expanding his game. He has been setting more screens and either rolling to the rim or sliding to the free-throw line for midrange jumpers.

He's shot poorly from midrange thus far but has benefited from rolling to the basket, with him catching more alley-oops. Considering he barely ran pick-and-roll over his first three seasons, instead often popping out to the 3-point line, that has been a welcome change. In fact, it's resulted in Wembanyama getting easier baskets.

It may not be the same as him creating for others, but it allows Fox, Castle, and Harper to create for him. Also, Wembanyama rolling to the basket often draws in a second defender, freeing up a Spurs shooter in the corner.

In a way, that is playmaking: Wemby's gravity creates open looks for teammates, while being a big target makes it easy for Fox, Castle, and Harper to find him.

I'd still like to see Wembanyama's passing ability be incorporated more into the Spurs' offense. That said, he is already generating offense directly and indirectly for the Silver and Black.

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