The arrival of Victor Wembanyama marks the beginning of a new era in basketball, and it’s a game-changer we can’t ignore. This young talent is poised to revolutionize the sport, and he’s going to do it with his unparalleled defensive prowess.

Let’s put aside the offensive skills for a moment; we won’t even delve into the myriad of things he can do with the ball. What sets Wemby apart is his disruptive presence on the defensive end. When opposing players have the ball, they’ll need to completely rethink their approach because of Wemby’s imposing influence.

Now, let’s break down the math. Wemby boasts an astonishing 8-foot wingspan, making him the lightest and swiftest player of his stature we’ve ever witnessed. He can quite literally cover an area of 20 feet around him, extending 10 feet in every direction.

Consider that incredible preseason block on Andrew Wiggins. Wemby seamlessly glided from the paint to the wing, closing a 10-foot gap in the time it took Wiggins to shoot. It’s a jaw-dropping display of his agility and speed.

In today’s NBA, the most lethal offensive weapons, such as Jokic, Curry, and Luka, excel at putting defenders in impossible situations, creating numerical advantages like 4-on-3s, 3-on-2s, and 2-on-1s. As the last line of defense, you’re often left with a challenging choice: yield a basket or surrender an assist that leads to a basket. These scorers seamlessly transition from alley-oops to floaters, making it nearly impossible to stop them 90% of the time.

But Wemby isn’t your typical player. He operates in an entirely different realm, one where he compels the offensive player to make the unattainable choice. Take the Andrew Wiggins scenario as an example. Wiggins had to take that shot, as he was wide open, and in today’s NBA, passing up such opportunities hurts your team.

Wemby tricks you into thinking the shot is wide open. And once you commit to it, he closes the gap so rapidly that scoring becomes exceedingly difficult, and passing is rendered too late.