Victor Wembanyama enjoyed a strong debut season with the San Antonio Spurs. The French phenom proved all of the hype surrounding his arrival within the NBA was justified by averaging 21.4 factors, 10.6 rebounds and three.9 assists over 71 video games.
As a consequence of his unbelievable measurement and size, he’s already being billed as a future Defensive Participant of the 12 months candidate.
Nonetheless, that very same measurement and size have former NBA big man Paul Mokeski concerned about Wembanyama’s long-term well being. Mokeski, a 12-year veteran of the league, believes Wembanyama’s measurement may depart him vulnerable to vital well being points later in life.
“The human physique shouldn’t be made to be so tall,” Mokeski informed Dusty Garza of Information 4 San Antonio. “From Darryl Dawkins and Moses Malone to Earl Cureton, Wilt Chamberlain, and Jack Haley, all of them died from heart-related issues. That is what occurs with tall gamers like me who performed within the NBA. We discover the previous tall gamers who’ve handed away and the way they died. Sure, it’s a concern.”
Whereas Mokeski’s warning is honest, vital developments in sports activities science over the previous 10 years ought to assist reduce any potential long-term threat related to Wembanyama’s measurement. He is additionally not the one 7-footer within the NBA proper now, with Kristaps Porzingis, Chet Holmgren and Rudy Gobert as among the different outstanding large males.
“He could have far fewer issues on account of coaching and information about it,” Mokeski mentioned. “I’m much less anxious about somebody like him now than, say, 25 years in the past. He can be a lot better off than I used to be.”
Whereas Wembanyama’s long-term well being is undoubtedly in good palms, the Spurs coaching employees will wish to guarantee he stays injury-free. Huge males are sometimes susceptible to decrease again and leg accidents, which might typically derail a profession or produce vital limitations.
Wembanyama should proceed including muscle to his body whereas sticking to his stretching routine to make sure he is nonetheless versatile and nimble.
San Antonio is navigating a whole rebuild of its roster, with Wembanyama the clear-cut franchise cornerstone. The entrance workplace added Chris Paul to the rotation earlier this summer time, which ought to assist take the massive man’s recreation to a different stage, particularly within the choose and roll. Wembanyama is a star of the long run.
Nonetheless, that does not imply he should not begin taking the mandatory precautions to guard himself from potential well being dangers additional down the road.
