San Antonio Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama is only in his third NBA season, but he is already arguably the best defender in the league. He has met his potential, as most people deemed him a generational defender before he even entered the NBA. 

Now, he has met the hype because he is the runaway favorite to win the award this season. It would be a massive achievement for him because defending in the NBA can be quite tough. Wembanyama had some misconceptions about it before, but he learned a lesson when he started playing in the league.

Wembanyama initially thought the NBA’s defense was limited

There is a concept surrounding the NBA that there is no defense being played. This has become so bad that prospects entering the league are devaluing the defense being played.

Even Wembanyama admits that he was taken aback, but he realized that the offense is too good in the NBA, which makes defense look not as glamorous. As he developed in the league, he realized that playing defense in the NBA is challenging, which motivates him further to perform.

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As arguably the league’s best defender, Wembanyama is showing the ceiling of a good defender. Of course, he uses his 7’5″ frame to be a defensive presence, but he does not give up on plays, as he always finds ways to block shots and disrupt the opponent.

“Before I got here, it’s a lot of talk about the NBA that nobody plays defense anymore, or like there’s no defense in the NBA. I heard that a lot before coming here, but it’s just not true. Players are just that good… People actually do guard in the NBA and do lots of scouting,” Wembanyama said about the defense being played in the league.

Moving forward, people should appreciate the defense being played in the league. They are doing their best, but sometimes, the offense is just better. Defenders get over it and do their best again in the next opportunity, as they believe in their defense to make the difference in the long run.

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