So, everyone was talking about this Wembanyama kid, right? Félix, Victor, whatever. The hype was crazy even before he played a proper NBA game. Me, I’m always a bit skeptical of the noise. I like to see things for myself, figure stuff out my own way. So I decided, okay, let’s actually track this dude through his first season. Not just watch highlights, but really dig in a bit.
My Little Project Started Simple
First off, I just wanted the raw numbers. Points, rebounds, blocks, steals, the usual stuff. I figured I’d check the box scores after each Spurs game. Seemed easy enough. I opened up a basic spreadsheet, nothing fancy, just columns for the date, opponent, and the main stats. I thought, “Okay, this will give me a baseline.”
But pretty quickly, maybe after like ten games or so, I realized just looking at numbers like points per game or blocks per game didn’t really capture what people were freaking out about. Yeah, the block numbers were nuts, but it felt like there was more to it.
So, phase two kicked in. I needed context. How does this compare? I started thinking about other big-impact rookies, especially tall guys or those with massive expectations. My list looked something like this:
- Shaquille O’Neal
- Tim Duncan
- David Robinson
- LeBron James (different position, but massive hype)
- Maybe even someone like Ralph Sampson?
I went back, dug up their rookie season stats. Had to manually punch these into my sheet. Took a bit of time, finding reliable numbers for the older guys without just clicking a single link. Put Wemby’s projected season stats alongside theirs. Okay, interesting. The numbers were holding up, even looking historically good in some areas, especially the defensive ones.
Beyond the Spreadsheet
Thing is, numbers are flat. They don’t show the how. So I started making an effort to watch full Spurs games when I could, not just the highlight reels. And that’s when it clicked more. You see stuff that doesn’t show up neatly in a box score.
Like, how he changes shots just by being near the paint. Guys hesitate. They take tougher floaters or pass out. That doesn’t count as a block, but man, it’s valuable. I started adding a ‘notes’ column to my spreadsheet. Just scribbled thoughts like:
- “Forced bad pass under basket – no stat”
- “Recovered super fast on defense”
- “Tried that weird dribble move again – worked this time”
- “Looked kinda tired in the 4th quarter”
It wasn’t scientific, just my own observations watching him play. I focused on his movement, how fluid he was for his size. The way he could contest a shot at the rim and then immediately get out to challenge a three-pointer. That range was something else.
What I Reckon Now
So after following along pretty closely all season, poking at the stats, and actually watching the games? Yeah, the hype is mostly justified, I gotta say. He’s not like anyone I’ve really seen before. That combination of size, skill, defensive timing… it’s wild.
My little spreadsheet project became kinda fun. It wasn’t about proving anything, just satisfying my own curiosity. I learned that sometimes you gotta go beyond the headlines and the easy stats. Watching the game, adding your own context, even if it’s just rough notes, helps you get a better feel for what’s really going on. He’s got flaws, sure, like turnovers or shot selection sometimes, but the overall package? Pretty special. I’m definitely gonna keep watching him.
