[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

In 1985 Mark Eaton blocked 456 shots, a mark that has not been challenged since, and until recently I never imagined would be. Over the past 2 decades, as the floor has become more spread and moved away from the basket, the prevalence of blocks has generally gone down and the shot-blocking specialist (ex. Eaton, manute bol, Shawn Bradley, etc.) has basically vanished from the league. While I believe, wemby will be far from a shot-blocking specialist, I believe he will obliterate the record books when it comes to this stat.
While most blocks occur near the basket, Wemby is unique in that he has the ability to block shots basically all over the floor, with his combination of length, movement and instincts. He will not only be able to swat dunks and layups, but also threes, mid-range and floaters. Shots guys used to think were not blockable will suddenly become very blockable when he’s on the floor. It will fascinating to see how teams and players will adjust to something they’ve never seen before. I don’t think 500-600 blocks in a season (or possibly even more) is out of the question for this guy if he can stay healthy enough.
I’m still not quite sure how the rest of his game will translate, but I’m almost certain that this guy will be the greatest shot-blocker in modern nba history at least from virtually the second he steps on the floor.

[HitsterParticipant]

The likes of Bol, Eaton and Bradley were blocking specialists when the vast majority of scoring was done in the post area as you say. But I’d much more think of Wemby as a player like say Hakeem than as those great defensive anchor specialists. How even great defensive players like Mount Muitombo would have coped in the modern NBA has been questioned let alone the specialist defensive guys.

Of the defensive greats its often said Ben Wallace with his smaller height and strength would have had the speed to have been the most effective shot blocker of them in the modern NBA. I was looking at Dennis Rodman’s stats and despite being one of the best rebounders ever, he blocked relatively few shots. But Wemby’s build is much more like Rodman’s than Big Ben’s so could he be a similar threat on rebounds.

I’ll be most interested to see how Wemby’s presence on court will affect the 3 point shooter, will they have to alter their arc with him on court or even the taller guys on the team take the 3 point shots. I can see Pop looking to employ a big body in the paint alongside Wemby so they can do the banging and Wemby can float in and out of the paint.

Whether he can beat Mark Eaton’s record I don’t know but if he stays sound I’d probably back him more to reach 3k career blocks. Hakeem’s record would be an even greater feat but if he could top the one season record or get near to it a few times it might be possible.

[HitsterParticipant]

When Wemby blocked Kyrie on virtually the first play I was thinking you called it perfectly Dazzling Dunks.

Wemby’s debut wasn’t ground shattering but we saw his 3 point range, his ability to pick up the alley oop or anything near the basket to tip in or catch and get a shot in. If he does get his version of the sky hook going he can totally dominate. Then how do you guard him a guy anywhere near his size would not be able to keep up with him and soon get into foul trouble and a smaller guy who can match him speedwise and back into him Wemby can still shoot over him.

[HitsterParticipant]

Wemby is looking scarily good at both ends of the court so far and typically the team I support have been on the receiving end.

[NorrinRaddParticipant]

Great topic with valid points all around that have been said… Wemby so far is right there in the top 3 in blocks per game and is only a matter of time before he’s the league leader. And If I remember correctly, I believe he leads the league in stocks… He’s definitely doing things defensively on another level, and he hasn’t even remotely figured “it” out yet… pretty scary! Compared to young LeBron, it’s interesting… 2 different prospects going into the league with similar expectations. Both deliver. Wemby seems to be just scratching the surface.

[NorrinRaddParticipant]

… And Wemby just got 9 stocks last night, including 6 blocks against AD and the Lakers.

[NorrinRaddParticipant]

Barring injury, it’s only a matter of time before Wemby is the league’s best. It’s crazy how much he’s being held back. He’s on a minute restriction playing with guys that are playing experimental positions at times at young ages. This team could be great in the future. They might be losing now, but the flashes shown by players are really good – and in Wemby’s case great. If I were hypothetically a GM with an option to build a team around any player in the league – right now it’s Wemby. Doncic probably 2nd. Pop is masterminding a way to get all his core guys maximized in skills for now, but once he sets them all up for success – the league better be ready!

[HitsterParticipant]

Wemby has been playing more minutes and games than I thought. The Spurs are behind where they were last season but may well do better over the 2nd half of the season and are only 2 wins better than the Pistons who are further along the rebuilding process but don’t have Wemby.

I’d still tend to agree with NorrinRadd that Pop is trying various line ups around Wemby and knows what he wants the team to look like long term. Another very high draft pick or two does no harm and I’d back the Spurs Front Office to select the best player to meet their needs.

They could virtually take any of the current top prospects and Pops could fit them into his roster easily.

[NorrinRaddParticipant]

10 blocks last night with a triple double, beating Toronto in the process. He’s revolutionizing shot blocking in front of us.

[HitsterParticipant]

I could see him doing a quadruple double in due course.

His ability to block away from the basket gives his game a different dimension to say a more traditional elite blocker like Walker Kessler. Chet’s blocking ability will give OKC a different dynamic going forward too.

With Wemby I still don’t know whether he’ll have more shot blocking/altering potential either playing as a hybrid PF/C or as a true defensive anchor C. Even the dynamic of pairing him in a twin towers frontcourt would be interesting as if the Spurs had a defensive anchor it would give Wemby the freedom to play more on the perimeter and block shots, be in there for steals too.

[HitsterParticipant]

Just done two successive 5×5 in games. Only 15 players have achieved a 5×5 before and the last person to do it in successive games was MJ!

[HitsterParticipant]

37 blocks in his last 7 games!
180 already this season which is more than the blocks leader for the full 21/22 season and on target to be the first guy to get 200 blocks in the regular season for 7 years. Lots of great defensive players have way exceeded this number but this is Wemby’s rookie season.

Serge Ibaka had great 2nd to 5th seasons with around 800 blocks in those 4 years combined but he only managed 97 in his rookie year if you are looking for a recent player who started his career with impressive blocking figures. Also apart from AD in the last 20 years no guy who was one of the leading blockers has a PPG like Wemby already has.

[HitsterParticipant]

Wemby has become the first player in 7 years to reach 200 blocks in a season. Surely he gets some All NBA defensive recognition as well as ROY award.

[HitsterParticipant]

He’s put up 33 points, 16 rebounds, 7 assists and 7 blocks vs the Nets in 36 minutes on court in an OT game. He only had 1 PF against himself too, so if he can keep out of foul trouble that well you just wonder what numbers he’ll put up. Now on 207 blocks for the season!

[HitsterParticipant]

In his last 9 games he has put up 24.4ppg, 12.3rpg, 6apg and 4.2bpg. He really is legit.

[HitsterParticipant]

He’s passed 250 for the season now after another 7 tonight.

[Author]

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