Who will lead the Spurs in rebounding subsequent season?

Among the finest coachisms round is “a defensive possession isn’t full and not using a rebound.” It’s one of the “duh” statements, but additionally so profound and sometimes missed by defensive evaluation.

The San Antonio Spurs had been a horrendous defensive group final 12 months. They’d the franchise’s worst defensive ranking of 120, they allowed 123 factors per recreation and let groups shoot the best share from three within the league. These numbers clearly stand out as the explanation why the group struggled on that finish. What can get misplaced of their defensive image is that they had been’t terribly efficient at ending a possession with a board.

The Spurs had been twenty third within the NBA in defensive rebounding, averaging 31.9 a recreation. What makes this quantity much more weird is that they had been seventh within the NBA in offensive rebounding (11.8 a recreation) and twelfth within the league in whole rebounding (43.7 a recreation.) Have been the Spurs only a extra aggressive offensive rebounding group, or are there actual rebounding points on the roster?

No participant on the group averaged greater than 7 rebounds a recreation. The Spurs had been a smaller group late within the 12 months with the Jakob Poeltl commerce, and the Charles Bassey damage. Gamers like Zach Collins and Sandro Mamukelashvili needed to step up and personal the glass.

Assistance is on the way in which subsequent season within the type of a 7-foot-3 huge man Victor Wembanyama. Will his size support the Spurs defensive rebounding woes? Or will it’s one other participant who steps up and dominates the boards for San Antonio?

Listed below are the three gamers who could lead on the Spurs in rebounding subsequent season.

Victor Wembanyama

The man who ought to bodily be the closest to the ball off of a miss could be most certainly to seize the rebound, proper? Not less than thats what the Spurs are probably hoping for. We’ve all seen the spotlight put backs, however Wembanyama’s rebounding potential goes past his aptitude for the implausible.

Wembanyama’s size is an apparent consider his rebounding prowess. At 7-foot-3 with an 8-foot wingspan, he has the bodily instruments to be an easy rebounder. Nonetheless rebounding is about extra than simply bodily items. Fortunately for the Spurs, Wemby has the intangibles that goes alongside along with his pure potential.

He has a great nostril for the ball, and crashes the glass laborious when it’s applicable. He averaged over 10 rebounds final 12 months with Metropolitans 92, regardless of going up in opposition to some greater bodied defenders in France.

The true query for his rebounding potential is how he offers with the physicality of NBA huge males. Will he have the ability to dangle on the glass with the likes of Steven Adams, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jonas Valančiūnas? If he’s enjoying out on the perimeter whereas Zach Collins bangs inside with opposing bigs, he might miss out on some rebounding alternatives. However given Wemby’s size and instincts, it’s laborious to think about him averaging decrease than 7 rebounds a recreation.

Zach Collins

Collins season was a story of two halves. Pre-trade deadline, his numbers don’t soar off of the web page. His numbers after the Jakob Poeltl commerce signified he was able to tackle a beginning position. He has a possibility to tackle much more duty this season.

Put up-All Star break, Collins averaged 7.9 rebounds a recreation. He averaged 6.4 rebounds over the course of the season. He was a significant inside presence for the Spurs down the stretch final season. If Wembanyama goes to spend extra time on the perimeter, they may want Collins to carry issues down within the paint.

Gregg Popovich praised Collins potential to be “nasty” down low. The Spurs will want his physicality to battle on the glass in opposition to a number of the enforcers within the league. With a beginning position and extra time because the group’s paint presence, Collins could possibly be in line for an additional stable rebounding efficiency within the 2023-24 season.

Charles Bassey

If he’s totally recovered from his patella damage that sidelined him final season, Bassey ought to be within the combine for the Spurs greatest rebounder.

Statistically, Bassey was the groups strongest rebounder final season. He averaged 5.5 a recreation, and had the group’s highest rebounding share (an estimate of whole rebounds grabbed by a participant whereas on the ground) at 20.7%.

He’s an athletic, bodily presence who has a excessive motor. As a backup huge man, he shall be tasked with defending the paint and proudly owning the glass. Given his efficiency final 12 months, I’d anticipate him to fill that position nicely.