Could Victor Wembanyama Be the Secret Weapon to Topple the Thunder Dynasty?

Johnson’s ability to navigate the Wembanyama-less terrain was admirable, an ode to the depth and roster building that general manager Brian Wright oversaw this past summer. But despite guiding the Spurs with the NBA’s No. 9 offense since mid-November, any hopes of sustained success were grim with a defense that ranked fifth-worst in the league, allowing 122.6 points per 100 possessions, according to Cleaning the Glass.

With Wembanyama back manning the middle, San Antonio’s defensive identity established months ago can recalibrate itself. The Spurs allow a stingy 106.5 points per 100 possessions in Wembanyama’s minutes, a mark that would rank second in the NBA behind, ironically, the Thunder. But it’s not just what the Spurs do while Wemby is on the floor, it’s how they do it. Opponents take nearly nine percent less shots at the rim and five percent less shots underneath the free-throw line, an impact of the 99th and 98th percentile, respectively, according to Cleaning the Glass. Those same opponents see their conversion rates from those areas drop by over ten percent, again in the 98th and 99th percentile. A seismic, stylistic shift like that can’t be understated, not in a vaunted Western Conference or in the entire league for that matter. In other words, welcome back, Wemby.