Victor Vector's Week 14: Rookie's Tough Defensive Night

Welcome to the extraordinary talents of Victor Wembanyama. Step right up and witness the prowess of a 7-foot-4 Frenchman who can skillfully execute nutmegs off the dribble, block 3-point attempts, showcase a step-back from beyond the arc, seamlessly put back his own step-back in just two steps, and dunk on opponents from a standstill position outside the restricted area. He is truly a human cheat code.

In this space, we monitor the bi-weekly progress of the San Antonio Spurs rookie, comparing him to the most highly anticipated prospects of the past five decades. Using Yahoo Sports’ default fantasy basketball settings, we gauge and rank their on-court contributions.

But before diving into the stats, ponder this: Could Wembanyama possibly be considered the best player ever to allow a 70-point night while serving as the primary defender?

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In their recent matchup, none of the Spurs dedicated more time defending Joel Embiid than Victor Wembanyama. The current NBA MVP poured in 24 of his 70 points in just 5 minutes and 45 seconds against Wembanyama during the Philadelphia 76ers’ 133-123 victory, according to league tracking data. Additionally, Embiid tallied 22 points against Jeremy Sochan and 21 points against Zach Collins.

Despite the impressive offensive performance by Embiid, Wembanyama merits serious consideration for the Defensive Player of the Year award. Leading the league with 3.1 blocks per game, he has a significant impact on opponents, who shoot 6.3% worse than their season averages when contested by him. Among defenders contesting at least 10 shots per game, this places Wembanyama second only to Embiid. Notably, San Antonio functions as a top-10 defense with Wembanyama on the court but drops to a bottom-two unit without him.

This dynamic adds a compelling element to the discussion of the greatest scoring performances in history. Despite giving up 70 pounds to Embiid, Wembanyama, an athletic marvel standing at 7-foot-4, is changing the game’s geometry. Embiid’s 70-point feat, achieved on 41 shots in 37 minutes, gains additional significance when considering the challenge posed by Wembanyama’s defensive prowess, highlighting the force as a skill.

Wilt Chamberlain’s historic 100-point game occurred against backup second-year center Darrall Imhoff, who fouled out, and rookie big man Cleveland Buckner, whose career spanned only 11 more games. Imhoff earned his lone All-Star appearance five years later in 1967. Fortunately, we won’t have to wait as long to witness Victor Wembanyama’s inaugural All-Star appearance.

Chamberlain’s scoring prowess extended to other opponents as well, with 70-plus point performances against players like Ray Felix, Paul Hogue, and Leroy Ellis. Notably, he scored 73 points against a rookie Walt Bellamy, who eventually enjoyed a Hall of Fame career. Chamberlain also dropped 70 points against a 34-year-old Dolph Schayes, who was just 28 games away from retirement. While Schayes, a 12-time All-NBA honoree and a member of the NBA’s 75th anniversary team, is arguably the best player to concede 70 points to someone, it’s crucial to recognize that Wembanyama has the potential to be a transformative presence in the NBA.

Among defenders of players who scored 70 points, the closest comparisons are Willie Naulls, a four-time All-Star in his prime when Elgin Baylor set a then-record 71 points in 1960, and a rookie Jaylen Brown, who guarded Devin Booker during his 70-point game due to Avery Bradley’s absence. Booker’s performance was peculiar, with 28 of his 70 points coming in garbage time during a blowout loss, as the Phoenix Suns deliberately fed him the ball against Jonas Jerebko and company.

In Luka Doncic’s 73-point game against the Atlanta Hawks, Saddiq Bey and Jalen Johnson were the primary defenders for 38 of those points. Similarly, when Donovan Mitchell and Damian Lillard scored 71 points each last year, Ayo Dosunmu and Daishen Nix were their most frequent defenders, respectively. Unfortunately, tracking data is unavailable for historic performances like Kobe Bryant’s 81-point game, David Thompson’s 73-point night, and David Robinson’s 71-point outing, but they were defended by Jalen Rose, Chris Ford, and Elmore Spencer, respectively.

If Victor Wembanyama fulfills the high expectations set for him, he might end up being the best player ever to allow a 70-point night – not exactly the rookie center distinction he’d prefer.

The tracker will reveal how it all unfolds. Before delving in, here’s a key:

Season averages: Points (FG%/3P%/FT%), rebounds, assists (turnovers), steals, blocks

Advanced: Player efficiency rating, true-shooting percentage, win shares per 48, box plus-minus

Through X games (record): Total PTS-REB-AST-STL-BLK, TO (FGA-FGM, 3PA-3PM, FTA-FTM)

Victor Vector Yahoo Fantasy points (through Week X): Default season settings

Without further delay, here are the Victor Vector rankings from Week 1 through Week 14:

Grant Hill, Detroit Pistons (1994-95, 70 games):

Averaged 19.9 PTS (48/15/73), 6.4 REB, 5 AST (2.9 TO), 1.8 STL, 0.9 BLK
Advanced rookie statistics: 19 PER, 54.1 TS%, .097 WS/48, 2.0 BPM
Through 46 games (17-29): 627-175-145-62-36, 91 TO (219-469 FG, 3-19 3P, 186-245 FT)
Victor Vector Yahoo Fantasy points (through Week 14): 997.2
Kevin Durant, Seattle SuperSonics (2007-08, 80 games):

Averaged 20.3 PTS (43/29/87), 4.4 REB, 2.4 AST (2.9 TO), 1.0 STL, 0.9 BLK
Advanced rookie statistics: 15.8 PER, 51.9 TS%, .040 WS/48, -0.1 BPM
Through 46 games (11-35): 882-187-99-40-48, 132 TO (316-781 FG, 46-164 3P, 204-235 FT)
Victor Vector Yahoo Fantasy points (through Week 14): 1,049.8
Isiah Thomas, Detroit Pistons (1981-82, 72 games):

Averaged 17 PTS (42/29/70), 7.8 AST (4.2 TO), 2.9 REB, 2.1 STL, 0.2 BLK
Advanced rookie statistics: 14.5 PER, 48.7 TS%, .046 WS/48, -0.8 BPM
Through 46 games (20-26): 715-118-326-86*-8*, 172* TO (258-617 FG, 6-33* 3P, 193-275 FT)

Victor Vector Yahoo Fantasy points (through Week 14): 1,109.6

(*Some game-to-game statistics unavailable. Estimates based on season averages.)
Yao Ming, Houston Rockets (2002-03, 82 games):

Averaged 13.5 PTS (50/50/81), 8.2 REB, 1.8 BLK, 1.7 AST (2.1 TO), 0.4 STL
Advanced rookie statistics: 20.6 PER, 57.0 TS%, .176 WS/48, 2.2 BPM
Through 46 games (26-20): 596-374-71-13-92, 90 TO (219-414 FG, 0-0 3P, 158-206 FT)
Victor Vector Yahoo Fantasy points (through Week 14): 1,172.2
Patrick Ewing, New York Knicks (1985-86, 50 games):

Averaged 20 PTS (47/0/74), 9 REB, 2.1 BLK, 2.0 AST (3.4 TO), 1.1 STL
Advanced rookie statistics: 17.4 PER, 52.6 TS%, .084 WS/48, 1.1 BPM
Through 46 games (16-30): 889-385-93-44-93, 149 TO (345-701 FG, 0-3 3P, 199-271 FT)
Victor Vector Yahoo Fantasy points (through Week 14): 1,346.3

Let’s break down the Victor Vector rankings from Week 1 to Week 14:

LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers (2003-04, 79 games):

Averaged 20.9 PTS (42/29/75), 5.9 AST (3.5 TO), 5.5 REB, 1.6 STL, 0.7 BLK
Advanced rookie statistics: 18.3 PER, 48.8 TS%, .078 WS/48, 1.7 BPM
Through 46 games (17-29): 879-252-256-65-29, 164 TO (336-818 FG, 38-141 3P, 169-224 FT)
Victor Vector Yahoo Fantasy points (through Week 14): 1,366.4
Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers (1996-97, 76 games):

Averaged 23.5 PTS (42/34/70), 7.5 AST (4.4 TO), 4.1 REB, 2.1 STL, 0.3 BLK
Advanced rookie statistics: 18 PER, 51.3 TS%, .065 WS/48, 0.9 BPM
Through 46 games (12-34): 941-174-291-93-16, 194 TO (321-791 FG, 83-255 3P, 216-316 FT)
Victor Vector Yahoo Fantasy points (through Week 14): 1,445.55
Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers (1979-80, 77 games):

Averaged 18 PTS (53/23/81), 7.7 REB, 7.3 AST, 2.4 STL (4.0 TO), 0.5 BLK
Advanced rookie statistics: 20.6 PER, 60.2 TS%, .180 WS/48, 4.8 BPM
Through 46 games (31-15): 806-279-320-98-16, 164 TO (289-546 FG, 2-12 3P, 226-273 FT)
Victor Vector Yahoo Fantasy points (through Week 14): 1,546.05
Luka Dončić, Dallas Mavericks (2018-19, 72 games):

Averaged 21.2 PTS (43/33/71), 7.8 REB, 6 AST (3.4 TO), 1.1 STL, 0.3 BLK
Advanced rookie statistics: 19.6 PER, 54.5 TS%, .101 WS/48, 3.9 BPM
Through 46 games (20-26): 899-305-236-52-12, 144 TO (296-689 FG, 108-295 3P, 199-272 FT)
Victor Vector Yahoo Fantasy points (through Week 14): 1,587.95
Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs (1997-98, 82 games):

Averaged 21.1 PTS (55/0/66), 11.9 REB, 2.7 AST (3.4 TO), 2.5 B LK, 0.7 STL
Advanced rookie statistics: 22.6 PER, 57.7 TS%, .192 WS/48, 4.6 BPM
Through 46 games (32-14): 825-528-115-29-112, 149 TO (347-621 FG, 0-5 3P, 131-226 FT)
Victor Vector Yahoo Fantasy points (through Week 14): 1,588.55

Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets (1984-85, 82 games):
- Averaged 20.6 PTS (54/0/61), 11.9 REB, 2.7 BLK, 1.4 AST (2.9 TO), 1.2 STL
- Advanced rookie statistics: 21.1 PER, 56.4 TS%, .168 WS/48, 2.1 BPM
- Through 46 games (26-20): 945-532-65-54-108, 142 TO (374-693 FG, 0-0 3P, 197-321 FT)
- Victor Vector Yahoo Fantasy points (through Week 14): 1,620.9
Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets (2005-06, 78 games):
- Averaged 16.1 PTS (43/28/85), 7.8 AST (2.3 TO), 5.1 REB, 2.2 STL, 0.1 BLK
- Advanced rookie statistics: 22.1 PER, 54.6 TS%, .178 WS/48, 5.2 BPM
- Through 46 games (24-22): 746-254-345-100-3, 109 TO (244-559 FG, 28-100 3P, 230-278 FT)
- Victor Vector Yahoo Fantasy points (through Week 14): 1,632.95
Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers (2010-11, 82 games):
- Averaged 22.5 PTS (51/29/64), 12.1 REB, 3.8 AST (2.7 TO), 0.8 STL, 0.5 BLK
- Advanced rookie statistics: 21.9 PER, 54.9 TS%, .152 WS/48, 2.6 BPM
- Through 46 games (18-28): 1,040-587-161-32-27, 129 TO (395-768 FG, 6-11 3P, 244-397 FT)
- Victor Vector Yahoo Fantasy points (through Week 14): 1,655.15
Dikembe Mutombo, Denver Nuggets (1991-92, 71 games):
- Averaged 16.6 PTS (49/0/64), 12.3 REB, 3 BLK, 2 AST (3.5 TO), 0.6 STL
- Advanced rookie statistics: 16.5 PER, 54.0 TS%, .086 WS/48, 0.0 BPM
- Through 46 games (17-29): 878-613-107-31-125, 175

Let’s summarize the performances of the top three rookies in the Victor Vector rankings through Week 14:

Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls (1984-85, 82 games):
- Averaged 28.2 PTS (52/17/85), 6.5 REB, 5.9 AST (3.5 TO), 2.4 STL, 0.8 BLK
- Advanced rookie statistics: 25.8 PER, 59.2 TS%, .213 WS/48, 7.3 BPM
- Through 46 games (24-22): 1,250-282-249-108-50, 156 TO (466-898 FG, 4-22 3P, 314-370 FT)
- Victor Vector Yahoo Fantasy points (through Week 14): 1,818.4
David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs (1989-90, 82 games):
- Averaged 24.3 PTS (53/0/73), 12 REB, 3.9 BLK, 2.0 AST (3.1 TO), 1.7 STL
- Advanced rookie statistics: 26.3 PER, 59.7 TS%, .241 WS/48, 6.9 BPM
- Through 46 games (32-14): 1,067-542-102-73-148, 142 TO (359-680 FG, 0-0 3P, 349-480 FT)
- Victor Vector Yahoo Fantasy points (through Week 14): 1,912
Shaquille O’Neal, Orlando Magic (1992-93, 81 games):
- Averaged 23.4 PTS (56/0/59), 13.9 REB, 3.5 BLK, 1.9 AST (3.8 TO), 0.7 STL
- Advanced rookie statistics: 22.9 PER, 58.4 TS%, .163 WS/48, 3.5 BPM
- Through 46 games (23-23): 1,104-653-77-35-183, 187 TO (426-749 FG, 0-2 3P, 252-430 FT)
- Victor Vector Yahoo Fantasy points (through Week 14): 1,983.95