How to defend against Wembanyama? Someone has already provided the answer.

After the Spurs began the season with five consecutive victories, their recent two defeats have brought the team back to reality. Wembanyama’s stats in those first five games were outstanding: 30.2 points, 14.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 4.8 blocks per game, placing him seventh in scoring and leading the league in rebounds and blocks.

When fans were chanting that Wembanyama would contend for MVP, the Suns and Lakers successfully halted the hot streak of the Spurs and Wembanyama, each offering a blueprint on how to defend him.

Against the Suns, Wembanyama shot just 4 for 14 and scored only 9 points, marking his first time in over a year scoring below double digits. He also committed six turnovers and four fouls, making the entire game very challenging for him.

The Suns’ defensive approach was to aggressively double-team Wembanyama, with Royce O’Neale guarding him in mismatches and others rotating to apply pressure, wearing him down. From the moment he received the ball, the Suns focused heavily on him, using fronting defense to limit his catches and always ready to trap him on his blind side.

The Suns aimed to force Wembanyama to catch the ball far from the basket, pushing him to start his one-on-one plays from the three-point line, betting on his shooting touch. Even when he had the ball beyond the arc, the Suns’ traps would come quickly to disrupt his rhythm and prevent comfortable isolation plays.

To make things as difficult as possible for Wembanyama, the Suns were willing to concede other players. This gamble paid off as the Spurs shot only 10 of 41 from three-point range, missing many open shots created by Wembanyama. The Suns built an early lead of over 30 points, securing their biggest win since the season began.

The Suns’ overall defensive strategy was risky but coincided with a cold shooting night for the Spurs’ other players. Of course, Wembanyama’s ability to break through double teams still needs improvement, which is a natural part of a superstar’s growth—you inevitably face traps; it’s just a matter of time.

After the game, Wembanyama said, “My biggest feeling is that they effectively trapped me on every offensive possession. They anticipated all the offensive tactics we might run.”

Against the Lakers, Wembanyama also struggled, shooting 5 for 14 with no made threes on 2 attempts, finishing with 19 points, 8 rebounds, 5 turnovers, and 6 fouls before leaving early. The Lakers continued to use extensive mismatches to defend him, with Smart primarily guarding him, and forwards like Hachimura and LaRavia rotating on different possessions; even Doncic took part in defending Wembanyama.

Whenever Wembanyama caught the ball inside, the Lakers’ double teams came quickly. Speed was crucial in these traps, as fast double teams often caught him off guard, and Wembanyama still lacks experience in handling such pressure.

The Lakers strategically allowed Wembanyama open looks from three, clearly having studied his recent shooting. This season, Wembanyama’s biggest improvement has been his physicality; he’s more willing to shoot inside, with a 66.7% shooting percentage near the basket on half of his attempts.

However, beyond the arc, Wembanyama averaged only 3.3 three-point attempts per game, down 5.5 attempts from last season, and his early-season three-point shooting percentage was a poor 26.1%. Therefore, the Lakers chose to leave him open on threes, which resulted in him missing both attempts and not shooting from there afterward.

Unlike the game against the Suns, the Spurs shot 39.4% from three against the Lakers, especially Barnes who made many open corner threes. So despite Wembanyama’s poor performance, the Spurs stayed competitive until the final moments. Notably, the Lakers successfully forced Wembanyama out of the game in the clutch moments.

This highlights the critical defensive role played by Smart, a former Defensive Player of the Year. Beyond mismatched guarding, Smart deliberately tried to draw offensive fouls on Wembanyama. In consecutive possessions, he caused both an offensive and a defensive foul on Wembanyama, jumping aggressively to provoke fouls despite previously being blocked by him, showing no fear.

This is the value of veteran presence in games. Smart, a crafty defender who won Defensive Player of the Year by drawing fouls, taught the rookie Wembanyama a tough lesson. Veteran experience is contagious; in the final quarter, Wembanyama was also called for a sixth foul after being fouled on a charge by Hachimura.

Wembanyama’s physical strength has indeed increased, but now he needs to focus on avoiding unnecessary contact and anticipating driving lanes. Against experienced teams like the Lakers, lowering his head too soon leads to offensive fouls and turnovers.

Nevertheless, even when his shooting struggles and troubles mount, Wembanyama still exerts a tremendous impact on both ends of the floor. His rim protection is terrifying, and offensively, he draws most defensive attention, creating opportunities for teammates. It’s fair to say he already shows the makings of a superstar, though he still needs game experience to refine his skills. His progress this season has been substantial.

Of course, Wembanyama’s style still requires some flair, but he is not suited to hold the ball for extended periods. His height limits his ability to handle traps effectively. Therefore, he needs a good point guard nearby to share ball-handling duties, which is why Fox’s arrival is important. Once Fox returns and Harper fully develops, Wembanyama’s impact will grow even more.

The whole world is eager to see what Wembanyama’s ultimate, fully developed form will look like, but the journey will be challenging. This is only the regular season; the playoff stage will test him even more intensely.

Only by experiencing, breaking through, and overcoming these challenges can you stand at the pinnacle of victory.