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. Resulting from his unimaginable measurement and size, he’s already being billed as a future Defensive Participant of the Yr 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 might depart him prone to important well being points later in life.
“The human physique just isn’t 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 truthful, important developments in sports activities science over the previous 10 years ought to assist reduce any potential long-term danger 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 a few of the different distinguished massive males.
“He can have far fewer issues attributable to coaching and data about it,” Mokeski stated. “I’m much less anxious about somebody like him now than, say, 25 years in the past. He shall be a lot better off than I used to be.”
Whereas Wembanyama’s long-term well being is undoubtedly in good fingers, the Spurs coaching employees will need to guarantee he stays injury-free. Massive males are sometimes liable to decrease again and leg accidents, which may typically derail a profession or produce important 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 an entire 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 large man’s recreation to a different degree, particularly within the decide and roll. Wembanyama is a star of the long run. Nonetheless, that does not imply he should not begin taking the required precautions to guard himself from potential well being dangers additional down the road.