5. Victor Wembanyama, C, San Antonio Spurs
2024 NBA Rank: 11
Wembanyama actually appears like he’s able to roll. The San Antonio Spurs not too long ago visited Ingram Tom Moore Excessive College, an space hit exhausting by devastating floods that swept by means of the Texas Hill Nation again in July, and Wembanyama led the crew by means of an abbreviated exercise in entrance of the scholars. Tossing the basketball off the backboard, Wembanyama jumped to catch it earlier than placing it by means of his legs and slamming dwelling a thunderous dunk that whipped the spectators right into a frenzy. Wembanyama made it look simple.
Largest query: Will Wembanyama’s whirlwind summer time pay dividends this season?
It ought to. After sitting out the ultimate 30 video games of final season due to deep vein thrombosis, Wembanyama obtained a clear invoice of well being in July throughout a busy summer time wherein the 21-year-old skilled for 10 days at a Shaolin temple in Zhengzhou, China, and labored with Corridor of Fame huge males Kevin Garnett and Hakeem Olajuwon. It’s a protected guess that Wembanyama’s work with Garnett will instill a bit of extra aggressiveness into the Frenchman’s sport, whereas Olajuwon doubtless schooled the third-year Spur within the candy footwork and put up strikes that made the 12-time All-Star just about unstoppable for 18 seasons within the NBA. Wembanyama believes that among the strikes carried out throughout his Kung Fu coaching in China mimic what he’ll be doing on the courtroom. — (Michael C.) Wright
Signature stat: Victor Wembanyama grew to become the third participant with a 5×5 sport, a 10-block sport and a 50-point sport in the identical season since blocks/steals grew to become official in 1973-74, becoming a member of 1992-93 David Robinson and 1989-90 Hakeem Olajuwon.
Fantasy projection: 24.7 PTS, 11.5 REB, 4.0 BLK
