Wemby's slap in the face to SGA wasn't strictly out of spite

Victor Wembanyama has never been one to twerk for the cameras. There's no lying or performing for the 7'4" Frenchman. If he doesn't like you, he doesn't like you, and he won't pretend. The NBA community has, as a whole, finally come to that realization three years into his career, so sometimes, when he speaks, everyone knows there could be a little something extra behind his words.

For those who didn't watch the video, Wemby was asked to list his starting five, but he could only choose from the athletes who graced the cover of NBA 2K over the past 10 years. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was not chosen, despite having one of the best resumes in the player pool, and Thunder fans had plenty to say about it.

However, despite what we know about Wembanyama's tendency to slight his rivals, there's more to his starting lineup than just disrespecting the reigning two-time MVP.

Wembanyama's starting lineup is incredibly well-balanced

Wemby's starting five: Luka Doncic, Damian Lillard, Devin Booker, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and himself, Victor Wembanyama
Players not selected: Paul George, Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, Kobe Bryant, Jayson Tatum, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

That's a pretty serious and scary starting lineup, but the abilities of each player are what make it work. Gilgeous-Alexander needs the ball in his hands to be at his most effective. If you had to choose one star to run an offense, manipulating defensive coverages to get himself or his teammates a great shot, Luka would be at the top of the list. He's an offensive savant.

His defense isn't the greatest, but when he's locked in, he can hold his own, and with Booker, Giannis, and Wemby on the floor, they have plenty of defensive firepower. Space is the name of the game in today's league, and while SGA has improved as a distance shooter, it sometimes leaves him, and he'll revert to forcing his way into the lane in big games/moments.

That deficiency hurt his game during the Western Conference Finals, as he repeatedly tried to work his way into his sweet midrange spots, but Stephon Castle's physicality and Wemby's presence made that difficult. San Antonio's defense rendered Shai ineffective at times, and that has to be fresh in the Spurs' star's mind.

The Greek Freak is a no-brainer. His combination of motor, size, length, and defense makes him a must for the starting five. He's also a two-time MVP, but this one has a Defensive Player of the Year award stacked on top. The whole lineup fits together, basketball-wise, with players who complement each other's strengths.

Could you make an argument for SGA over Booker because he hasn't shot over 33% from three over the past two seasons? Sure. But that's where the "strictly" in the headline comes in. There's 100% beef with OKC, and everyone knows it. But we're talking sports here, so that's okay.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow