Sport
‘Wemby’: How the NBA is being altered before our eyes
Some say all good things come in threes, yet for Victor Wembanyama they come in fives, as he became the youngest player ever to log a ‘5×5’ statline in the NBA on Saturday night. The 20 year old recorded 27 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists, alongside 5 steals and blocks apiece. Achieving this feat alone is remarkable; only 15 players have ever notched such a performance – it just reinforces the overwhelming voices that have lauded the Frenchman as the most exciting NBA prospect since LeBron James. Usually it’s the newcomer given the baptism of fire, yet thus far, the world is being shown that it’s Victor’s world, and we’re mere spectators.
‘Wemby’ stands at a freakish height of 7 foot 4 inches. Seven. Foot. Four. It’s the sort of characteristic you apply to your alter-ego basketball player on a video game, to make them as dominant as possible. I mean, just under twenty three Victor Wembanyamas with outstretched arms would reach the length of a football pitch. Yet not only is he very much a reality, but Victor’s qualities go far beyond his height. He’s a never-before-seen archetype of a player with devastating talent, hence why so many predict this basketballing prophet to tyrannise the association over the years to come.
Elite rebounding IQ, a slick handle, a first-class pull-up jumpshot, and an overwhelming presence under the rim – Victor’s got a deep bag of tricks. He’s magic. LeBron James noted the influence of Spurs coach Gregg Popovich on player development and how that promises to aid the 2023 number 1 pick to become “better, better, and better”. Popovich has a history of nurturing the young talent of the league’s development into superstars; take David Robinson and Tim Duncan for example. It can only benefit the Frenchman to have an encyclopaedic basketball mind shepherding his every move.
“That kid is SPECIAL!!”
Lebron james (@kingjames via x)
Victor got drafted to San Antonio in the past summer, the Spurs reaping the rewards of their lacklustre 2022-23 campaign. Their star rookie immediately brings noteworthy impact onto the court for his team – the Spurs’ defensive rating with Wembanyama on the floor is 118, yet it balloons to 127 when he takes to the bench. That means the the Texas outfit would theoretically allow 9 points fewer, if Wembanyama were to play the entire game. Many stat junkies hone in on Victor’s lack of average efficiency on scoring the ball, yet turn a blind eye to reality. Only three players have ever averaged 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks in their rookie year. Make that four.
So far, it kind of just sounds like a description of an above average basketballing talent, whose abilities are inflated due to the lack of ‘talent’ around him. So what? The ‘what’, in this case, is that he remains just 20. I mean, he still can’t legally purchase alcohol in the USA! Basketball players tend to naturally peak between 27 and 30, and many, such as the aforementioned James, remain in or around that level as late as 39 years old. Wembanyama is looking at a two decade career in the NBA, with potentially one of those in his sporting prime. He is already performing at such a level that he could be playing for a championship ring in one or two years – if he were to follow the trend of European superstars remaining one-franchise-players, such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, Dirk Nowitzki, and Nikola Jokic – Victor could initiate a commanding dynasty in San Antonio, and this is the problem.
Parity is crucial for every sport in the world; complete domination is generally frowned upon. If his rise can sustain this momentum over the next few years, the idea of parity would certainly be unlikely. Whilst the competitive future of the NBA seems bleak, the French freak of nature is unquestionably a fun watch on the court; even for a non-basketball fan. He’ll make your jaw drop, and your measuring tape come out of the kitchen drawer. Everyone expected him to be good. Perhaps not quite this good, however. And this is the ‘worst’ that he’ll ever be.
John Coleman has been appointed as the new manager of relegation-threatened Aldershot Town.
The Shots had been searching for a new boss since Tommy Widdrington resigned earlier this month with the club battling to stay out of the relegation places.
Club chairman Shahid Azeem said: “We are really excited to welcome John to the EBB Stadium. His experience at non-league and above and what he has given to the game is nothing short of remarkable.”
Coleman has managed across the footballing pyramid, most notably at Gillingham, Rochdale and Accrington Stanley, spending 23 years over two spells with the latter.
He enjoyed success with Accrington, helping them rise through the leagues before winning the Conference National title in 2006 during his first spell and then going onto secure the League Two title in 2018 in his second.
Coleman arrives at the EBB Stadium with Aldershot sitting in 20th, above the drop zone on goal difference only, but fans will be hoping his experience will bode well for the National League club.
His first match in charge will be in the FA Cup however, as the Shots travel to face Weston-super-Mare in the first round on Saturday.
Alan Dowson and James Henry took charge of the team on an interim basis while the Aldershot hierarchy looked for Widdrington’s replacement.
Azeem acknowledged their involvement and said: “First of all, all of us here at ATFC want to sincerely thank Alan Dowson and James Henry for stepping up to the plate in this interim period.
“It has not been easy and they have acted with true professionalism throughout. Alan and his team will lead The Shots out this weekend, and the Club are right behind them. We look forward to continuing to work with them.”
Dowson and Henry oversaw Aldershot’s 2-1 defeat to Scunthorpe at the weekend, but Coleman has now taken over as manager.
Colden Common continued their fine form with a 5-2 win over AFC Aldermaston, which now see the Stallions move to second and are four points behind Whitchurch United.
The Stallions got off to a flying start as Brad Lethbridge slotted past Sam Baldock just two minutes into the game, but 10 minutes later a quick counter-attack was finished off by Rio Bartley for the Atom Men.
Shortly afterwards, Colden Common were back in front following a returning Ben Sunley finding the back of the net, following Joao Ferreira’s strike was parried into the path of the former Winchester City forward.
Things got worse for Aldermaston as they were reduced to 10 men.
After an initial foul from Thai Morgan on Cal Archer, Nick Parfitt-Bowers was sent off following an incident involving defender Will Erdinc.
HT: Colden Common 2-1 AFC Aldermaston
Just under 10 minutes into the second-half, Aldermaston found another equaliser with Mo Adam’s volley, but the floodgates opened for Marcus Richardson’s side.
It was two goals in the space of three minutes for the Stallions. Archer’s low drive put Colden Common back in front as Sunley’s run down the left was volleyed home by Ferreira, with the Portuguese winger scoring his first goal for the club.
Late on, Archer fired home a second after he curled his effort into the top corner.
FT: Colden Common 5-2 AFC Aldermaston
Defender Sam Middleton bagged two goals as Colden Common moved into the top four with a 4-1 win over Clanfield
Ahead of the visit of the Clan, Steve Kings made seven changes from the side that took on Ash United.
The Stallions controlled the early stages of the opening stage.
Brad Lethbridge directed his header wide, before Owen Sims and Cam Stone combined on the right with new signing Joao Ferreira being found on the right, which saw his effort curled wide.
Despite their early dominance, former stallion Matty Rylance swung at a loose ball but his volley flew wide as Charlie Brook’s shot from a tight angle was denied by James Egeland-Jensen.
Colden Common came close to breaking the deadlock when Lethbridge made a darting run from right, which lead to Lethbridge’s shot deflected off Rylance’s attempted block and saw a quick save from Logan O’Donnell to keep the game level.
The chances kept coming for the Stallions. Cal Archer had two chances in quick succession to open the scoring, the former Fleetlands midfielder dragged his effort off target then two minutes he fired wide from close range. Ferreira’s strike was richoeted to the feet of Denny Adams but his ambitious effort from distance curled wide.
Clanfield could of took the lead when Kevin Bosaka won the ball off the pitch from Archer and made a powerful run and picked out Brook, but his low drive was blocked by Egeland-Jensen.
But seven minutes before half-time, the Stallions finally broke the deadlock. Lethbridge capitalised on Bailey Harkin’s lacklustre clearance and floated a cross to an unmarked Middleton, who fired his half-volley past keeper O’Donnell.
HT: Colden Common 1-0 Clanfield
It did not take long for Colden Common to find a second.
After a lovely run from Sims picked out Stone, who drove towards goal and found the back of the net.
Clanfield nearly responded immediately when Joe Briggs was threaded through outside the box but Egeland-Jensen palmed away his strike. But Five minutes later, the Clan were back into the game. A quick-counter attack was finished off by the former Winchester City winger Briggs – for his seventh goal of the season.
Despite some slight pressure from the Clan, Troy Wingfield’s foul on substitute Josh Bowerman saw the Stallions awarded a penalty with just over 20 minutes left to play. Lethbridge fired from the spot to restore Colden Common’s two goal lead, with the former Portsmouth midfielder bagging his third goal in the last five league games.
The chances kept coming as Lethbridge had shot from range and Jimmer Henderson’s attempt was blocked on the line.
In the last ten minutes of the game, Colden Common added a fourth and saw unlikely brace for Middleton. Will Erdinc flicked a loose ball to Lethbridge, who then found Middleton unmarked at the back post as he slotted through the legs of O’Donnell.
Colden Common believed Clanfield should of been reduced to ten men following Callum Stockley’s foul on defender Nathan Primus, who was operating as a striker, but the appeals were waved away and the Clan defender was given a yellow. An free-kick was awarded outside the box, Middleton stepped-up to seal the hat-trick but his strike was struck over the bar.
FT: Colden Common 4-1 Clanfield
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