Since the start of the season, Victor Wembanyama et Chet Holmgren continue to be compared. Unsurprisingly, their talent, their start to the season and their profile are both unique and intriguing.
In his podcast, Gilbert Arenas asked himself whether he would prefer to be in the situation of the Frenchman or the American.
For him, Victor Wembanyama has had a start to the season which seems more promising for the future for a simple reason. Their age.
« This is how we have to look at the situation. One is 19, the other is 21. What did the 21 year old look like when he was 19? What I can tell you is that he wasn’t in the NBA shooting 19 points. Now, at 21, we see what Chet is worth. But what will Wemby be worth when he turns 21? That’s what you’ll have to judge Chet against. You judge him (Victor Wembanyama) against an older player. But at the same age, when Wemby turns 21, who will he be? Will he reach 17 points and 10 rebounds? Or will it be 25 or 26 and 12?
What do you think it will look like? There won’t even be a comparison. They won’t even be on the same planet. Because at 19, they were already not on the same planet. One was in college, the other is in the NBA. They’re not on the same planet now. We just compare them because they are both “rookies”. But you have to take age into account. One is in the NBA, with all that pressure, the other at the same age was in college.
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People don’t understand how important a factor age is when you’re evaluating talent. Michael Carter-Williams won Rookie of the Year. They traded him, they wanted younger players. He was 21 when he arrived, he was Rookie of the Year, but he was compared to players who were drafted at 18. He was better than his rookie class, but not better than the 21 year old players.
Chet, let’s compare him to 21 year old players. Some are already All-Stars, or All-NBA players. You are 21 years old, your peers are not rookies, they are 21 year old players who are looking 22. (Paolo Banchero, Anthony Edwards, Scottie Barnes, LaMelo Ball) it’s his age group, All -Stars, All-NBA players. That’s who Chet is competing with, not Wemby. »
An interesting and rather fair point of view. But partial. It’s difficult to consider the development of a player as something linear, even if extrapolations are still possible for such young players. It’s also difficult to compare a player who had no choice but to do a year of college, then who was injured for a full season, to a player who was able to land in the NBA so young.
Furthermore, even if it would tend to go in the direction of Victor Wembanyama, the contexts and teams are radically different. The Frenchman is the center of all attention in a squad clearly below that of the Thunder. In OKC, Chet Holmgren can quietly develop while an SGA draws all the light to him. But for the same reason, there is not the first option.
In short, the debate is clearly not simple, but Gilbert Arenas has the merit of providing an element of reflection. However, it would be important not to draw hasty conclusions, but rather to feed the analysis. As with debate, the most interesting thing is not the debate itself, but its ability to refine our opinions, our points of view and the knowledge of our sport through reflection.
Because in the end, we are still very lucky to see the beginnings of two phenomena like them and that is the most important thing.
The podcast on Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren
2023-12-04 12:32:00
#Victor #Wembanyama #Chet #Holmgren #Arenas
