How Victor Wembanyama is starting to unlock the game within the game

SAN ANTONIO — As Victor Wembanyama’s 7-foot-5 body towered over all other occupants of Frost Bank Center Friday night, his constant sulking and lolling head during a four-point first half stuck out like a sore thumb.

Wembanyama was frustrated. Physically, the Frenchman had allowed Houston’s aggressive defense to get the better of him on multiple occasions, at times even lying on the ground, unable to fight off multiple Rockets defenders. But from a mentality standpoint, Wembanyama’s entire approach was dictated by Ime Udoka’s aggressive scheme, with the third-year center moving away from the restricted area and settling for jumpers.

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For a Spurs team that had lost two straight games, a third straight defeat was seemingly on the cards. San Antonio has taken on Wembanyama’s identity, and in games where its mistakes outweigh its excellence — 10 fouls and 11 turnovers combined in losses to the Suns and Lakers — the team negatively morphs into that image.

After one look too many late in the second quarter, teammate Keldon Johnson had seen enough, giving Wembanyama an emphatic slap to the chest. A sort of recalibration.

By the time the third quarter ended, Wembanyama’s demeanor had changed immediately. Houston’s second-guessing and evading pressure was over. He gave chase, using the Rockets’ game plan against them and posting a dominant 18-point second half on 6-of-10 shooting to propel the Spurs to a 121-110 victory in the NBA Cup Group C game.

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“I don’t think it’s an epiphany or anything like that,” coach Mitch Johnson said of Wemby’s final efforts. “I think he’s slowed down and allowed the reads to happen. When he gets the ball and we have the proper space, teams have to decide to defend one-on-one or bring multiple bodies. And when he does that, because he’s so cerebral, he’s able to make reads and we get really competent quality possessions — and I think he’s done a really good job of that.”

Because of the explosive way Wembanyama started the season, averaging 33.3 points, 13.3 rebounds and 6 blocks against the likes of Dallas, Brooklyn and New Orleans, outside expectations around the Spurs have increased. Ordinary performances against Phoenix and Los Angeles tempered some of the lofty goals set by those same people.

The truth is somewhere in the middle. Yes, Wembanyama is quickly establishing itself among the league’s best, and as a result, San Antonio should be recognized as a dangerous team in the Western Conference. But they are far from a finished product. Wembanyama itself is still an unfinished product. This is a team that is still working to incorporate De’Aaron Fox, who is expected to make his regular season debut Saturday after recovering from a hamstring injury, and is still waiting for the return of electric rookie guard Dylan Harper from a calf injury.

That’s why nights like these are so important. The NBA is a copycat league, and the Rockets, after seeing how recent teams have had success defending Wembanyama, duplicated the method, bumping and fighting him for 48 minutes. As Wembanyama continues to grow physically and become a stronger player with a solid foundation, opposing defenses will test his limits. Houston threw everything but the kitchen sink at him, facing him and denying entry passes, hitting him on catches and swarming on potential drives.

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But the cerebral aspect of Wembanyama’s game, how he adapts to adjustments, is what will determine his and San Antonio’s ceiling. Every game won’t be against the Nets or Pelicans where he can showcase his battering ram skills. Some plays, against elite defenses, require the precision and skill of a surgeon. Choose his points wisely, know when to probe, when to attack. Wembanyama, who played the final 4:48 with five fouls, found a good balance while remaining aggressive within the limits of legality.

“Obviously, Vic has faced a number of coverages this season,” Spurs forward Harrison Barnes said. “Double teams, box-and-ones and all kinds of things. I think he’s done a good job of being patient. Understanding that it’s a learning process but still staying aggressive and helping us win these games.”

According to Cleaning the Glass, Wembanyama’s assist percentage has steadily declined since he entered the league; From 21.4% as a rookie to 16.4% on November 7th. It’s still a healthy position – 75th percentile among bigs – but one that highlights his growing importance as a half-court option.

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Defenses will never relax their approach to Wembanyama – what he is currently facing will only increase as his development increases. But as he showed in the second half against Houston, his playmaking continues to be an underrated skill, not only for the plays he is directly involved in but also for the reads he makes a move or two up front. Per Second Spectrum, Wembanyama, who finished with four assists Friday, is second on the team in passes made (282), third in secondary assists (six) and second in potential assists (52). The more teams load onto Wembanyama, the more he can engage others around him in a properly distanced environment.

“Their lineups have changed,” Wembanyama said. “And it seemed like they wanted to score a little more, so they brought in offensive players. So I think their individual defense maybe went down because of that. It was a little more open.”

The Spurs put together an impressive performance against a Rockets team that had won five in a row, out-rebounding them on the offensive glass and out-scoring them in the half-court. For Wembanyama, the next step is to understand the sweet spot between brain and muscles.