As anticipation builds for the upcoming NBA campaign, Bleacher Report’s latest projections have placed San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama at number four on their list of the league’s ten best scorers for the 2026-27 season. Given his trajectory, it is a completely reasonable projection—but for the 7-foot-4 superstar to fully cement his status as an elite, tier-one scorer, he must focus intently on refining his shot diet and diversifying his offensive attack.
Building on a Dominant Foundation
Last season, Wembanyama averaged a career-high 25 points per game while playing just 29 minutes a night, a remarkably efficient output that landed him 13th overall in league scoring. Naturally, the prospect of what he can achieve with a heavier minute load and increased playing time is a terrifying thought for opposing defenses across the Association.
However, to truly unlock his scoring ceiling and join the absolute pantheon of offensive greats, Wembanyama needs to find a better balance between his perimeter shooting and his sheer dominance closer to the rim.
While the young star has made tremendous strides on both ends of the floor—solidifying his reputation as the premier two-way player in basketball—vestiges of his early-career tendencies still linger. During the 2024-25 campaign, he attempted a staggering 8.8 three-pointers per game, often falling too much in love with his long ball. Although he showed improvement last season in cutting back on jump-shot settling, the Finals showcased that he still leaned heavily on the perimeter, averaging just over six long-range attempts per game.
Striking the Right Balance
This is not to suggest that Wembanyama should abandon the three-pointer entirely. His unique floor-spacing ability creates massive advantages for the Spurs’ offense, pulling opposing rim protectors away from the basket and opening up driving lanes.
However, as a 7-foot-4 mismatch who is nearly unstoppable when operating inside the paint, striking an optimal balance between stretching the floor and punishing opponents down low will make him an entirely different proposition for defenses to contain.
Fortunately, the Spurs have constructed a much deeper roster, particularly bolstering their interior presence. This added depth and collection of frontcourt talent will alleviate a massive physical burden off Wembanyama’s shoulders, allowing him to preserve his energy, absorb contact, and carve out his desired space near the rim without having to exhaust himself carrying the entire load on both ends of the floor.
The Next Level for ‘The Alien’
By better managing his two-way workload and leaning into his inside-out versatility, Wembanyama can completely eliminate the lulls where defenses successfully wear him down. If the Spurs can maximize his touches closer to the basket while maintaining his elite floor-spacing gravity, the rest of the NBA should prepare themselves for a truly relentless version of ‘The Alien’—one ready to dominate every single possession and make that projected scoring leap a reality.
