Basketball fans can watch Victor Wembanyama and identify things that the talented Frenchman should work on offensively. His shot selection can be questionable, his handle isn't as tight as it should be, and the list goes on. He's still learning to use a body that's unlike anything the NBA has ever seen.
But despite all of his "deficiencies," the stats show the Spurs' star is already one of the most productive scorers against elite defensive personnel we've seen in two decades. That's saying something fascinating, yet scary, depending on who you ask.
Highest single season league adjusted scoring rate when on an All-NBA defender is on the floor over the last 20 years.
— Automatic (@automaticnba) August 5, 2026
These players couldn't be stopped even with some of the best defenders in the world trying. pic.twitter.com/W96hM37XMh
Wembanyama is already thriving where scoring gets difficult
Ranking sixth over the past 20 years in scoring rate when an All-NBA first- or second-team defender is on the floor is extremely impressive for someone so raw. The 32.2 points per 75 possessions is great on its own, but the +9.9 rTS is much more impressive because it compares Vic's production to the league average in the same situation.
Wembanyama isn't just maintaining volume against better defensive personnel; his efficiency in those situations is exceptional. Look at the names on the list around him. It's some of the best offensive masters the league has had over the past two decades, and it overwhelmingly consists of guards and wings.
We all know that Wemby hasn't quite perfected his offensive toolbox. He hasn't figured out exactly how he wants to attack with consistency because he can do so many things, but also because his body is still growing and getting strong enough to impose his will. Still, it's evidence that elite defenders haven't been able to prevent him from being extraordinarily productive.
Wembanyama's offensive ceiling is impossible to comprehend
Vic is already sixth in this 20-year sample against elite defenders, and yet we're still talking about the things he hasn't quite figured out offensively. Some of those things are more about waiting for his body to be strong enough to take the beating required to be effective in specific areas.
With time, his shot selection and handle will improve, as will his ability to consistently create his own looks. Simultaneously, he'll develop the strength needed to do it all while maintaining control of himself and the ball.
The key here isn't necessarily that he'll become a much higher-volume scorer. It's that he should become a more efficient weapon as he figures out how he wants to attack. If elite defenders already can't disrupt his scoring, what happens when he becomes more polished?
Wemby landing sixth on that list shows us just how unusual his development already is. The Alien is producing historically impressive scoring numbers against the elites before his offensive bag has fully come together. The crazy part is that we're not close to knowing exactly where the ceiling is, making his trajectory even more captivating to watch.
