The Los Angeles Lakers could bounce back to winning ways largely because they surrounded their defensive tactics to stop Spurs’ behemoth Victor Wembanyama. Anthony Davis, his primary matchup revealed the game plan. The Purple and Gold tried to curb his three-point attempts given his high reliance on the weapon. Half of the 7’4″ center’s attempts come from beyond the arc. They held him to just two triples made and virtually let his tendencies be his reckoning.

A solid game plan. However, was it because of a weakness of Wemby that JJ Redick could rely on such a straightforward approach?

Notably, Charles Barkley cheekily pointed it out during the podcast. “You know what’s weird about Wemby? He’s like the only person in San Antonio who can’t gain weight,” the Hall of Famer said. Now, even Shannon Sharpe agrees with Chuck. It began with him urging the Spurs’generational prospect to dominate on the inside given his nightly height advantage. “I think sometimes you’re 7’4″ and a half, man get your a** down on the block,” the NFL great advised.

But he also agreed with Barkley. Sharpe feels Victor Wembanyama needs to add some mass to himself to become unflappable to force inside the paint where he has far fewer attempts for the season compared to threes. And the former Broncos tight end wants him to indulge in the lavish San Antonio cuisine to ensure he packs a punch.

“He’s going to have to put on some weight. All that damn cooking, that Mexican food that they got down there, soul food they got in San Antonio, get your ass in couple of these restaurants and get some biscuits and some tacos or burritos and some hog malls and all that,” Sharpe professed while on Nightcap.

At 235 pounds, Wembanyama isn’t as heavy as elite centers such as Nikola Jokic or Joel Embiid, who weigh close to 300 pounds. Naturally, for a big man, having a robust body due to the heavy workload on the interior gives an edge. But for the Spurs anchor, the priority isn’t his weight.

Weight hasn’t been an issue for Victor Wembanyama

Only in his second season, Victor Wembanyama has already showcased great maturity in the way he plays. After a slow start, he is averaging 23.4 points and 10 rebounds, solid production for a sophomore. While most believe adding weight might benefit him, it hasn’t deterred him thus far.

Notably, Wemby shoots 80% in the restricted area and close to 60% inside the paint according to NBA stats. Hence, making shots isn’t an issue. However, the discrepancy in his attempts is alarming. Thus far, he has attempted a total of 148 threes. In comparison to his 24 paint attempts, that’s probably where he needs to improve.

Obviously, in this day and age, being splashy from three usually warrants a great result. The same is true in Wembanyama’s case. When he makes even four threes, a tick above his average, the Spurs have a 5-2 record. However, when they don’t fall as often, a change in game plan could help.

An imposing presence in the paint opens up the floor for other shooters on the Spurs roster such as Vassell or even Harrison Barnes. The cleaner looks benefit the team and for Victor Wembanyama paves the way for an efficient offense when his shot lacks accuracy. As far as weight goes, his agent has spoken about it in the past.

Given his lean physique, they want to create an advantage by harnessing his fast movements and dynamic skillset beyond the traditional center. Taking inspiration from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, longevity is the topmost priority rather than a short spell of dominance. While weight will help fend off pressure, it will also slow him down.

Hence, intricate attention is given to his flexibility and movements. Despite being lighter, Victor Wembanyama hasn’t struggled to finish near the rim yet. At the same time though, the sample size to judge the same remains small due to his limited attempts.