All-Star Wemby: Should You Bet on Victor Wembanyama to Become an All-Star?
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Victor Wembanyama is coming off a massive year after winning the Rookie of the Year Award last season. There are actually a lot of talk as to how the big man is expected to break barriers in his second season and come up with massive strides. From making it to the playoffs, becoming a contender for the Defensive Player of the Year, and many other expectations, the hype for Wembanyama is real, but will he also manage to become an All-Star in the 2024-25 season?
The Wemby Hype
At this point, it cannot be denied that expectations for Wembanyama have been sky-high. He has been the most anticipated player to enter the league ever since Zion Williamson was seen as the next LeBron James back then. On top of that, many are calling Wembanyama the next generational talent that the NBA has seen in years, which says a lot about the hype in his game.
Last season, Wembanyama was a promising star in his own right and could have even been a selection if it wasn’t for the stacked talent in the Western Conference. He would go on to average 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 3.2 blocks per game – earning him the Rookie of the Year honors by the end of the campaign. The 7-foot phenom was menacing as he could be night in and night out, and it cannot be denied that Wembanyama has enjoyed a promising run.
Of course, what made him really popular was his huge frame at 7-foot-4 and a wingspan that made him a deterrent in the paint. He was on par in the Defensive Player of the Year Race against Rudy Gobert, although the latter would go on to be selected over the Spurs rookie who was making a lot of noise for most of the season.
At this point, the Wembanyama hype hasn’t really died down, especially after he pulled off that November 1 5x5 game against the Utah Jazz, and that says a lot about the talk that he is also expected to be an All-Star at this point in time.
Can Victor Wembanyama Become an All-Star?
Well, fans have to consider the fact that being an All-Star for Wemby can come in different ways. The first is for the Spurs center to actually be voted as a starter in the Western Conference. Considering the fact that the West is stacked and full of players who are talented and popular, Wemby’s chances may be a little bit short on that end.
On the other hand, Wembanyama can be considered for the reserves – which is more realistic than most people would expect. He can be named by whoever gets to coach the Western Conference, and this may serve as a promising note for his chance on the All-Star ticket.
But what are other factors to consider in Wembanyama’s chances of becoming an All-Star?
The Spurs Need to be a Contender
Well, the San Antonio Spurs finished the 2023-24 season with a 22-60 record – which is good for 14th overall in the Western Conference and just a full game ahead of the Portland Trail Blazers, who finished last in the West. So far, this year hasn’t been any different for the Spurs despite adding some key acquisitions in the draft and in the free agency market. For Wembanyama to be considered a real All-Star this year, he has to show his value and help the Spurs get back to the top of the Western Conference – hopefully deliver a promising note and get the team to the postseason for the first time since the 2018-19 season.
Wemby Needs to Expand his Game
All the dunks, the jump shots, the big performances – Wembanyama is certainly shining bright now more than ever. He’s had big games in the previous season that actually led him to win the Rookie of the Year, but it cannot be denied that his game could use some more improvement. It is just his second year, and Wemby still has a lot to grow in the game at this point in time. Defense has to be stellar and must be on point, but the consistency of his offense has to be the main focal point. As of the time of writing, Wembanyama is averaging 17.7 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 3.7 blocks per game – but he is shooting just 41.3% from the field, including a massive drop at 22.6% from three. Those numbers are not definitely cutting it well at this point.
Intertwined Career with Chet Holmgren
Speaking of stats, Victor Wembanyama’s career and per-season stats will always be compared to his Oklahoma City counterpart in Chet Holmgren. For those who didn’t know, Holmgren is the runner-up for the previous year’s ROTY race, and it is hard to argue that the big man made it close for the whole season. In comparison, Chet Holmgren is having a promising season of his own with 16.9 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks – all while shooting a staggering 51.1% from the field, including 34.5% from three. If Wembanyama is going to be an All-Star, he has definitely to match these numbers and keep up his consistency for the season.
Can Wembanyama be a Good Pick for the All-Star?
Well, chances are, Wembanyama is going to be an All-Star if he manages to keep a promising note in his games and continue to come up with impressive strides. However, the Spurs need to ramp up its competitiveness and deliver impressive strides now more than ever. It cannot be denied that he’s due for more improvement after just 10-plus games this year, and that is going to be the basis for his resume for the All-Star.
Aside from the All-Star, you may also want to consider placing wagers on Wembanyama to even become the DPOY this year. He started out the campaign as one of the hot favorites with an open odds of -170, so make sure to check out GambleSpot’s Parlay and Odds Calculator to see the potential winnings that you can get when you place your bets on Wemby.
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