Rookies in the NBA are under constant scrutiny and criticism. In spite of this, San Antonio Spurs player Victor Wembanyama stands out as a rising superstar. The already extremely high hopes for this young talent were heightened when seasoned professional Jamal Crawford recently gave him high accolades on The Draymond Green Show.
Up to his draft hype, the 7’4″ giant has wowed the league with flashes of pure talent. Finding stability, though, has proven difficult, leading to discussions about whether he belongs in the competitive and fast-paced NBA. Jamal Crawford, though, examines more than just the highlights and figures.
Crawford thinks it’s the intangible qualities like his work ethic that Victor Wembanyama possesses that make him so scary. He told Draymond Green:
I don’t think Wemby’s best attribute is scoring… After the game we’re walking out; he’s in the weight room… doesn’t even say nothing. He just puts his head down. He wants some wisdom or knowledge… The little things he does besides the big things you see? Is why he’s actually better than the hype. It’s scary. Jamal Crawford said.
"He's actually better than the hype… it's scary"
—@JCrossover tells @Money23Green why the little things about @wemby has him destined for greatness pic.twitter.com/XdnKtfoWPn
— The Volume (@TheVolumeSports) February 20, 2024
Crawford shared his observations shortly after Wembanyama’s thrilling performance against the Atlanta Hawks. Even though the Spurs lost, there was no denying the rookie’s impact. He shown his ability to alter games by scoring 26 points and grabbing 13 rebounds in the second half. Jamal Crawford was impressed by his humility and openness to learning in addition to his basketball acumen and skill level.
Wembanyama’s playing time is being carefully managed by the Spurs as the season goes on, and he is being included into their plan. It’s about his enormous potential for the future, not just today. Wemby isn’t just any rookie—rather, he heralds in a brand-new Spurs era.
Thanks to Jamal Crawford, Victor Wembanyama now has a little streetball in his bag.
A sweet scene occurred between Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs and Jamal Crawford, who is renowned for his dribbling skills, during the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend. Crawford offered to train Wemby in the Shake n Bake dribble, which has become his signature move. Crawford saw Wemby, who had been training in Miami, after seeing a video of him trying the maneuver.
This conversation developed into a practical lesson in which Crawford taught Wemby a difficult dribbling maneuver. Even with a small slip-up, the rookie seemed capable of pulling off the play. It entails a dribble that enters and exits under the player’s hips and emerges on the other side. Crawford’s challenge was simple: execute this move in the rising stars game to unlock a personal lesson on the Shake n Bake’s complexities.
This mentorship between Crawford and Wemby is more than just about dribbling. It represents the passing of the torch, where experienced players guide the new generation, and the ongoing enhancement of basketball’s craft.