The Detroit Pistons still have some unfinished business in their season, but fan attention has already turned to the future.
Detroit is once again one of the NBA’s worst teams, a good year for it, as Victor Wembanyama, the future #1 pick in the draft, is going to change a franchise this offseason.
At best, the Pistons will have a 14 percent chance to draft the 7-foot-4 French phenom, but even that minor possibility has fans dreaming of what could be if you added him to Detroit’s talented young core.
Wembanyama is currently playing in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers for France, and put on another dominant performance recently against the Czech Republic, showing his full arsenal of skills in the process.
Detroit Pistons: Victor Wembanyama is a swat machine
Aside from the fact that he’s 7-foot-4 with handles like a guard and the ability to shoot the 3-ball, people tend to forget that Wembanyama has the chance to be one of the best defensive players in the league right away because of his shot-blocking ability.
In France’s dominant win over the Czech Republic, Wembanyama had 22 points, 17 rebounds, six blocks and four steals. He not only blocked six shots but affected countless others, so at the very least this kid is going to be a great defender, but the swats were just part of his highlight reel.
Victor Wembanyama put on a show with the French senior national team today versus the Czech Republic with 22 points, 17 rebounds, 6 blocks, 4 steals and the win, including some ridiculous highlights as usual. pic.twitter.com/zcvOx2rRqT
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) February 23, 2023
Another video was circulating where Wembanyama was pushed around a bit in the lane and dunked on, with some short sided fans talking about his “strength” and how he will have to “pack on muscle” to hang with NBA centers.
Sure.
Wembanyama was housed by a 300 lb. Czech center who plays with his back to the basket and shoved his way into the paint. How many guys in the NBA do that? Few. And let’s also not forget that Wembanyama is not even likely to play center, so most of his shot blocking is going to come off the ball. The idea that a guy needs to be able to play 1990’s post defense in the modern NBA is laughable, he’s going to be just fine, and will naturally get stronger as he ages.
All the Detroit Pistons can do now is to continue to lose (Dwane Casey seems to be doing his best to help that effort), pray for luck and dream about what could be if they can add the most hyped prospect since LeBron James.