Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
2023-24 stats: 20.8 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 3.5 apg, 3.5 bpg, 46.7 FG%
Global rating ranking: 77th overall
Since 1979-80, only four players have made an All-NBA team in their rookie season, all of them legends and all first-ballot Hall-of-Famers. Those names are Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, David Robinson and Tim Duncan. Coincidentally enough, the rookie who’s had the strongest shot to earn All-NBA honors in quite some time is another San Antonio Spurs big man, Victor Wembanyama.
Some factors are hurting Wembanyama’s case, however, despite his individual brilliance, which has shone even more brightly of late, with the former No. 1 pick averaging 22.7 points, 11.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.6 steals and 4.6 blocks on 36.9 percent shooting from three over his last 14 games.
For starters, his Spurs are 15-53, the third-worst record in the NBA this year. It’s tough to fault Wembanyama for that but it is the reality. Furthermore, some of the advanced stats don’t love his output, as the French native sits 135th in Win Shares this year and 131st in Win Shares/48 Minutes. (He does rank roughly in the Top 20 of both BPM and VORP, though.)
In addition, Wembanyama missed out on receiving All-Star honors this season, giving him an even higher mountain to climb as far as getting named to an All-NBA team, as it becomes tougher to receive the latter honor in campaigns you missed out on the former.
In the past 10 seasons, only seven players have made an All-NBA team in a year they weren’t an All-Star: Jimmy Butler, Pascal Siakam, Rudy Gobert, DeAndre Jordan, Damian Lillard, Goran Dragic and Al Jefferson.
None of them were rookies.
Additionally, not only were they all veterans but also on teams that had winning records by year’s end, meaning Wembanyama would really be bucking the trend if he were able to pull off All-NBA status in his first season.
The fact we’re even considering the possibility just speaks to how brilliant the big French shot-blocker has been as a rookie, and to the ceiling he has. We’re probably looking at a future MVP here and at a player who should have multiple 1st Team All-NBAs to his credit by the time he retires.
For Victor Wembanyama’s contract and salary info, click here.
