It is normal to expect a 7'5" giant like Victor Wembanyama to get easy looks at the rim. While that is true with all the alley-oop plays the San Antonio Spurs do, it is not as easy as one would think.
In this NBA Finals against the New York Knicks, Wembanyama has met his match somewhat in Karl-Anthony Towns. The six-time All-Star has been superb playing against the Frenchman, as people now see him as the best matchup against Wemby.
Scoring in the paint is not as easy for Victor Wembanyama as people think
At first glance, some people might think that it is easy for Wembanyama to play high-level basketball. While his height makes it look effortless, it takes a lot of work for Wembanyama to thrive.
He is always at the top of the opponents' scouting reports, so he constantly needs to adjust his game to beat his matchup. In Game 3, it was clear that getting into the paint was a point of emphasis, but it was not as easy as he would've liked.
MORE:Victor Wembanyama speaks about how Karl-Anthony Towns is causing him problems
Ahead of Game 4, top 2026 NBA Draft prospect AJ Dybantsa asked Wembanyama about how he keeps getting into the paint and thriving in that area. Victor himself responded in kind with some insightful answers.
"The goal is always to go inside. The best shot in the game is an alley-oop. It's the most efficient shot. But teams don't just let you do that. What we've built with this team is that we've got an identity that makes everybody dangerous," Wembanyama said to Dybantsa in a press conference ahead of Game 4.
"Sometimes it will pay off over a season, over a playoff series. We're going to get easy buckets, inside buckets like I did last night."
It is always a tough matchup because teams are going to be physical against Wembanyama. He might need to take shots from the outside because the paint is too packed. Take note that Wembanyama also needs to protect himself since big men are prone to injuries.
Wembanyama is a phenomenal player, and he does that by dominating his matchup by getting into the paint or nailing outside shots. That is the beauty of his game, he is a behemoth, but he has some of the most diverse skill sets in NBA history, and people are seeing it on the biggest stage.
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