Draymond Green provided a candid assessment of No.1 overall draft selection Victor Wembamyama, stating his belief that the French prospect won’t make the All-Star game during his rookie NBA season. Draymond’s unique perspective on the game and the NBA Draft process was the catalyst for further analysis of Wemby, highlighting the underrated factor of his game that truly makes him special.
Wembanyama will also have the chance to be led by Gregg Popovich, whose distinctions and prestige around the league qualify him as one of the greatest NBA coaches ever. Popovich, also the President of the San Antonio Spurs organization, has won five NBA championships with San Antonio, three NBA Coach of the Year awards, and was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame in 2023 as a first ballot.
During an appearance on Podcast P, a Wave Sports + Entertainment podcast hosted by LA Clippers forward Paul George, Green spoke about how he would guard Wembamyama, what to expect from him during his rookie season, and how NBA defenders won’t allow the French generational talent to display his skill as easily as he did in France.
"You're not just dribbling through me like the Harlem Globetrotters. I’m sorry, " said Green to George.
"Don’t get me wrong, he’s a phenom, and one of the best things to happen to him was going to San Antonio and coach Pop. That infrastructure is gonna teach you how to be a pro, and their player development is unmatched, so I think that is huge for him. But some of the stuff is just, I mean, come on, bro.
"Again, special talent and to even do some of the stuff at that size take a special talent, but you gotta press into him. You can’t let him get comfortable. You let him get comfortable you lose because you can’t block his shot. He may not even see your contest. So with a guy like that, you gotta do your work early.
"I‘m crowding him from the time he starts running down the court. When they get the rebound, and they start coming, I’m crowding because I cannot let him get to a space where he’s comfortable. If you do that against talents like that, aint nothing you can do to stop that. So for me, I’m all the way pressed up into him.”
Assessing his talents, Green acknowledged that NBA fans should be aware of Wembanyama's potential as an elite rim protector. Regardless if the number one pick can adjust to the league's physicality and a further three-point line, Green thinks his height alone is enough to compete as an elite interior defender.
“Separate from anything else, that he can do him as a rim protector. That is what I think most people aren’t talking about, and I actually think that is what separates him," explained Green.
"If he gets to the league, and because he is 7-foot-5, he can’t handle it as much as he wants or because the 3-pt line is further, his shot isn’t as good, if all else fails, him as a rim protector is an as elite as we have in the NBA. So you already have one thing that puts you in an elite category: a rim protector, and as we all know, teams are looking for rim protectors. I mean, someone in the NBA is getting paid as a rim protector, probably making more money than you P, which is a lot of money."
Green recently re-signed with the Warriors on a new four-year contract worth over $100 million (£78m). Wembanyama is set to make his San Antonio Spurs debut during the upcoming NBA 2K24 Summer League on July 7 after opting out of the prior California Summer League with his rookie teammates that started on July 3.
