SAN ANTONIO — The Dallas Mavericks will have the first crack at playing against San Antonio Spurs rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama on opening-night Weds. Oct. 25 at the Frost Bank Center.
And the Mavs are using a unique way to prepare the team against the 7-5 Wembanyama,
Dallas coach God Shammgod recently worked with the team on Saturday and used arm extensions to contest players' shots. A tactic aimed at getting Dallas players ready to combat against Wembanyama's wingspan.
Shammgod was also shouting "Wemby" during the practice session.
Recently, Mavericks' Jason Kidd spoke about facing Wemby describing him as a "problem."
“He has the skill set on the perimeter. He has great hands and can put the ball on the floor,” said Kidd. “So, he’s a problem so we have to figure out how to slow him down a little bit.”
And Wembanyama is anticipating all sorts of ways foes will try to score on him.
Against the Warriors, Jonathon Kuminga was hitting high-arching shots on the NBA rookie.
“I’m not surprised. My last few games have been like that. Everyone was trying to go at me so it’s nothing new," Wembanyama said to the media postgame against Golden State.
In the Spurs' preseason home finale, many NBA scouts were in attendance to watch the Spurs and the 19-year-old big man.
One scout echoed Kidd's thoughts as well as noted how fast Wembanyama is picking up the NBA style of play.
Through four preseason games played, he averaged 2.8 blocks per game (12.2% block percentage) to lead the team in the preseason. It was good for third-best in the preseason overall. He also grabbed 4.7 rebounds per game and 1.0 steals.
He also recorded 19.3 points per game, shot 51% from the field, and 1.5 assists in 20.9 minutes per game played.
Twitter: @KENS5, @JeffGSpursKENS5
