Victor Wembanyama provided a shocking reminder of his dominance on Tuesday night, beating the Los Angeles Lakers with a performance that had head coach J.J. Redick publicly acknowledging the challenge of containing the San Antonio Spurs superstar.
Wembanyama exploded for 40 points, including 37 in the first half, before being sent to the bench.
While the Lakers have successfully limited Wembanya in previous games this season, Redick admitted that their defensive scheme completely failed this time around.
“Yeah, I mean we've done a good job historically. He's had a good game. Again, I'm not saying we've shut him down, but we've limited him with coverage on him. We just didn't execute on that,” Redick said after the game. “He’s very aggressive, as aggressive as I’ve ever seen him attack the rim early in the game and shoot threes without hesitation.
“[He] He left a lasting mark in the first half. It’s hard for our guys on the floor to create shots at the basket. I think we took five; we were 2-for-5 at the rim in the first half. It’s just that we didn’t have many attempts at the basket. They are one of the best, if not the best, when it comes to protecting the rim. but [we] Just can't generate it. Regardless, we scored 55 points but had 14 non-paint 2-pointers. I feel like there's going to be some of that tonight. But to me, that's defense. “
Beyond the stat line, Redick made it clear that Vumbanyama's impact extends far beyond the numbers themselves, underscoring the fear factor the young star already inspires on defenses throughout the league.
“Yeah, I didn't really think about that,” Redick added. “But, yes, I know now that we have to contend with him. He's one of the five best players in the world. He's put such a mark on himself that, for me, it's not just about counting stats with him because defensively people will shy away from him. You have to get an awareness from his defense.
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