Wembanyama is missing the big picture in his refusal to develop a go-to move

When a Mack truck is coming at you full speed, there isn't very much you can do to stop it. LeBron James knew the same was true for him when he ran out on a fast break during his prime. Teams knew Michael Jordan wanted to get to the elbow for a midrange pull-up or post up on the low block for the fadeaway, but preventing it was a hellacious task most weren't apt for.

The examples of unstoppable go-to shots are endless, and that's what Victor Wembanyama should realize ahead of this fourth season in a Spurs uniform. So far, the Alien has been resistant to the idea that he should develop one of his own, believing the unpredictability in his game is an asset, but perspective is everything, and he's looking at this the wrong way.

A go-to move will be invaluable for Wemby when fatigue sets in

The biggest reason the 7'4" French superstar should reverse course on this decision is to put something in this toolbox he can rely on when he's battling fatigue. Exhaustion was Wembanyama's fiercest opponent during the postseason, and a go-to move could help him fight against it.

Think back to the NBA Finals. Every possession became harder as time in the fourth quarter dwindled. Every drive required more effort. Every decision took longer. That's when franchise stars stop looking for answers and start relying on habits they've repeated thousands of times.

A go-to move isn't about limiting creativity. It's about conserving mental and physical energy when a championship is on the line.

Predictability isn't the weakness Wembanyama thinks it is

Wemby's philosophy on adding a go-to move to his game is well-intentioned, but history suggests he's overthinking this. Tim Duncan had his bank shot, Kobe Bryant had his midrange fadeaway, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had the skyhook. Every one of these players won multiple championships, relying on their work to get the job done when they needed it most.

You know the move is coming, but you can't stop it. But what Wemby is forgetting is that element of the game comes whether you have a go-to move or not when the playoffs roll around. In a seven-game series, each team knows the other. All tendencies have been studied and committed to memory.

At that point, it simply comes down to who is better. Who can assert themselves, refusing to be denied? Nobody is going to be tricked by some fancy new move. So, if players can just set their opponent up in a favored sweet spot and add a strong counter or two, they're golden.

We don't even have to go further back than this season to see a shining example. Spurs fans will remember the overtime battle with the Nuggets toward the end of the season. Denver left the game with a win, and the shot that sticks out the most is Nikola Jokic's Sombor Shuffle over the outstretched arms of the eventual Defensive Player of the Year, sealing the victory for them.

Wembanyama shouldn't stop being the Alien. It's what makes him unique. But incorporating some of the lessons of past greats should be considered more seriously here. If he adds that layer to an already impossible skill set, the next time the Spurs find themselves in the closing moments of a grueling series, he'll have an answer he can trust when everything else fails.

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