Victor Wembanyama shouldn't have to solve his biggest scoring problem alone

Kevin O'Connor recently picked apart Victor Wembanyama's scoring numbers, and he made a fair point: Wemby's isolation production wasn't great in the playoffs. 33% in isolation, 23% on spot-up plays, and 40% on closeout drives isn't the stuff of legend.

If he wants to go from unanimous Defensive Player of the Year to true two-way superstar, he needs a real answer for what happens when a defense takes away everything easy. O'Connor's framing was simple: what's the next step? I don't disagree with the diagnosis, but it's only half the equation.

Wembanyama's isolation scoring could use a boost

Wemby is already the best defender alive. He's not yet the guy who can get his own bucket whenever he wants, and that's the swing skill separating "generational talent" from "unstoppable cover." Right now, take away his lob, the putback, the transition three, and the offense can get much harder to generate.

Fixing it matters. A Wemby who can win a one-on-one possession consistently, especially late in the game, changes what this offense looks like in May and June. Nobody is arguing otherwise.

However, there's much more worth acknowledging here. Wemby carries one of the heaviest loads in the entire NBA. He led the league in blocks per game again this past season, racking up 197 of them across 64 games. That's an effort stat that reinforces what our eyes tell us when we watch him cover a ridiculous amount of ground. It's why he became the first unanimous DPOY.

Nobody does more on that end of the floor, full stop.

The Spurs need to make Wembanyama's offense easier

When the conversation turns to "he needs better self-creation," I'd rather flip the ask. Instead of just handing Wemby more isolation reps, the coaching staff should be finding him easier looks in the first place.

Let's get him some early post touches before the defense sets, pick-and-pop opportunities off Castle, Fox, and Harper drives, and cuts that turn a stagnant possession into a free bucket. Lightening his load offensively can preserve his energy. Teams will keep trying to wear him out in the postseason, so combat that with easier shots.

Isolation-based looks should be the emergency button, not the starting point. Wemby is still only 22 years old. His efficiency will increase in those situations as he grows as a player, and without the polish of a veteran, he still averaged 25 points in the regular season, 27 in the Western Conference Finals, and 26 in the NBA Finals.

In the meantime, he needs some easier looks, and some of that responsibility belongs to the system around him, not just his own ability. Give him that, and O'Connor's question about the next step starts answering itself. Spurs Nation has watched this kid solve just about every problem the league has thrown his way so far. Odds are he'll figure this out, too.

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