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The Warriors have agreed on a contract extension with Moses Moody for three years and $39 million. That’s officially a steal.
Happy Wembsday!
What does Year 2 of Wemby look like?
Tonight marks the beginning of Victor Wembanyama’s second season in the NBA. His first was historic, and The Bounce basically celebrated all things Wemby last season. Guess what? We’re doing it again this season. Wemby is the transcendent basketball force who convincingly answers the question, “Who is going to be next when LeBron, Steph and KD retire?” It’s the 20-year-old French kid, who was listed at 7-foot-4 last year, 7-foot-3 this year, and who we all know is actually 7-foot-5.
Let’s put into context what all could potentially be on the table for Wemby with his stats, considering the historic season he enjoyed as a rookie. Everything we’re looking up is after the NBA/ABA merger (1976-77) because Wilt Chamberlain’s stats ruin everybody else’s accomplishments.
- Scoring: Trae Young (29.6 in 2019-20) has the highest post-merger scoring average for a second-year player. He increased his average by 10.5 points from his rookie campaign. Wemby would have to increase his average (21.4) by 8.3 points per game to surpass Young’s mark. Can Chris Paul get that done as his point guard?
- Rebounding: Shaquille O’Neal and Andre Drummond share this Year 2 record with 13.2 rebounds per game, respectively. In 2013-14, Drummond almost doubled his rookie-season average (7.6) as he played almost 12 more minutes per game in his sophomore season. Shaq’s numbers actually went down from 13.9 as a rookie about 30 years ago. Wemby would have to add 2.7 rebounds per game to pass them.
I know what you’re wondering. What about assists, blocks and steals, Zach? Could Wemby approach the best second-year averages for those too? I’m so glad you wondered. I’ve got that highlighting our new Thursday preview series anticipating the weekend schedule.
I truly don’t know if you can make unrealistic predictions about Wemby. What will be interesting is how his efficiency and shot creation develop. There will be setbacks and areas of growth. There will be history. We just don’t know if it gets the Spurs, who finished 22-60 last season, close to the Play-In this season.
And that brings us to what I’m calling The Capitulation Station!
This is where I ambushed two colleagues about their anti-Wemby agenda from a year ago. And by “ambush,” I mean I sent them each a question about being wrong to doubt Wemby, and they were kind enough to answer. Our two people of interest? My guys, James Edwards III and Jay King.
James, you had heavy doubts about Wemby, stating he had flaws that had been long ignored in the hype-up process (July 7, 2023). How do you feel about him heading into Year 2? JE3: I still think the narrative around Wemby is a bit much, but he’s going to be one of the best, if not the best, defensive players in the NBA this year. Veterans were afraid to try layups around the rookie, even if he was at halfcourt. His versatility as a defender translated immediately.
I still wonder about him as a top-tier shot creator. He takes bad shots, and I don’t know if I believe in the jump shot yet. He was easy to get off balance because of his slender frame, and he doesn’t look much bigger to me now. Having Chris Paul will allow Wemby to get better quality shots this season. But I’m still ehh on him as being a premier shot creator in the league in the same way, let’s say, Kevin Durant is.
Jay, you’ve compared Wemby to Ante Žižić and “malnourished Andre Drummond.” Are you ready to embrace Wemby as your baller and savior in Year 2?
Jay: My savior? Impossible. I’m unsalvageable. But, in the spirit of full transparency, I was merely trolling when I compared the best prospect since LeBron James to Ante Žižić. (Don’t tell the Spurs fans who still quote tweet those gems, thinking I was serious. Their anger entertains me.)
I don’t know exactly what to expect from Wembanyama during his second season, but no outcome seems outlandish to me. Could he average five blocks per game? Why not. It wouldn’t stun me if he makes first team All-NBA and wins Defensive Player of the Year. He will make four or five plays per game that nobody else in the history of basketball could produce. The Spurs spent his rookie season experimenting how to use him. Now they know how. This plane is only beginning to ascend.
This is not enough capitulating for me by James and Jay. You must make them pay, Victor!
The Last 24
The NBA is investigating Joel Embiid’s absence?
Yesterday, leading up to the 76ers hosting the Bucks, there was a lot of buzz about 76ers star Joel Embiid having his upcoming and yet-to-be-determined absences investigated by the league office. We’ll break this down more as more information becomes available. For now, I’ll say this feels like the NBA trying to remind us about its load management policy being on the up-and-up. I’m not sure using the guy who can’t stay healthy as the guy to investigate makes sense, though.
🎧 “The Athletic NBA Daily.” Today’s edition discusses whether Kevin Durant can carry the Suns deep into the playoffs and recaps this season’s first night of a full slate. Listen here.
🏀 Dejounte Murray fractured his hand. We’ll monitor the newest Pelicans guard and his injury situation, but it looks like he might be out for a while.
🏀 James Wiseman might be cursed. The 2020 second overall pick has had a rough go of it in his still-young NBA career. Last night, the 23-year-old left with what appeared to be a non-contact calf injury. Hopefully, it’s not his Achilles’ tendon.
📲 “Y’all got to have a little more pride in that All-Star Game.” President Barack Obama was on a podcast with Tyrese Haliburton and told him and the NBA to try harder. Watch the clip.
📺 Don’t miss this game tonight. Thunder at Nuggets (10 p.m. ET on TNT)! I promise you this game will (eventually) decide the Western Conference.
📺 You shouldn’t miss this one either. Wolves at Kings (10 p.m. ET on League Pass). These are two teams already jockeying for top-six position in the West.
📺 I’m telling you, the slate is 🔥 tonight. Spurs at Mavericks (7:30 p.m. on TNT). Wemby in Year 2 begins with Chris Paul in tow. The defending West champion Mavs have Klay Thompson now. Buckle up!
📺 The “And I’m Dooneese!” game of the night. Don’t miss Celtics at Wizards to start the night (7 p.m. ET on League Pass) simply because Boston might win by 70. Your reference point.
About Last Night
It was our first night back with a full NBA slate
Could you feel it last night? The overwhelming flood of basketball games you tried to consume? Didn’t it feel great? Throwing four games into the multiview on League Pass, having the national games on a separate screen and trying to drop witty and insightful jokes into multiple group chats full of takes and denials. The first full night of the NBA season hit us, and it was glorious. Everything about the night was fun, except for the Pelicans and some other broadcasts trying out camera shots like this:
Feel a little motion sick? Like you’re watching the movie “Fallen,” with a demon spirit floating around trying to find a new body to possess while Denzel Washington pieces together what’s happening? Let’s not do that anymore, NBA broadcasts! But the basketball was good! Here’s what you need to know from the night:
Suns 116, Clippers 113: There was a moment, in the third quarter, when it felt like Houston James Harden was playing for the Clippers. The 35-year-old former MVP dropped 16 of his 29 points right after halftime and was cooking the Suns. Then, Durant and Devin Booker brought Phoenix back in the fourth before Bradley Beal helped close it out in overtime. People love the new Clippers arena, though.
Pacers 115, Pistons 109: The Pistons looked like they were going to win and then got outscored 33-19 in the fourth. It’s good to have them back where we left them (In all seriousness, they looked much better).
Bucks 124, 76ers 109: No Embiid or Paul George for Philly, so Tyrese Maxey went for 25 points on 31 shots. Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo combined for 55 points, 23 rebounds and 13 assists.
Magic 116, Heat 97: Orlando put this one to bed after halftime with a 39-18 third quarter. Paolo Banchero (21 years old) was dominant with 33 points and 11 rebounds. Contract Year Jimmy Butler had three points on 1-for-8 shooting.
Hawks 120, Nets 116: This was a fun game! Ben Simmons looked ok! Trae Young had 30 points and 12 dimes. Cam Thomas put up 36 on his way to this season’s scoring title. We had pushing and shoving and a flagrant-2 ejection for Nic Claxton.
Hornets 110, Rockets 105: Rookie coach Charles Lee (39 years old) might be able to coach a bit! LaMelo Ball had 34 and 11 as Tre Mann scored 24 off the bench to beat Houston.
Pelicans 123, Bulls 111: No Zion. No Trey Murphy III. Oh, and remember Murray got hurt. No problem for New Orleans, though.
Grizzlies 126, Jazz 124: The new Big Three of Ja Morant (22 points, 10 assists), Desmond Bane (24) and Santi Aldama (27) handled matters.
Cavaliers 136, Raptors 106: Toronto, maybe start hitting Sam Vecenie’s mock draft.
Warriors 139, Blazers 104: Portland, you’ve already got that link bookmarked. 👆
(Top photo: Alex Slitz / Getty Images )
