Hakeem Olajuwon’s Insights for Spurs Star Victor Wembanyama

Hall of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon believes that a new addition to Victor Wembanyama's offensive game will make the San Antonio Spurs big man even more formidable around the basket. Like many young centers have done before him, Wembanyama sought Olajuwon's expertise to elevate his skills during the offseason.

"He basically wanted to know how to leverage. Let's leverage any opportunities you have, inside, outside, with opportunities in different situations without wasting energy," Olajuwon told ESPN's Michael C. Wright. The focus of their training was not solely on traditional techniques for big men, but rather shifting the perspective to 'big guards,' emphasizing versatility across positions.

Refining Skills: The Importance of Versatility

According to Wright, Wembanyama has worked on refining his offensive repertoire, including a jump hook that he is yet to showcase in games. Olajuwon pointed out that if the 21-year-old, now standing at an impressive 7'5", can consistently deliver this move, he would be nearly unguardable. "You know how well he can shoot, right? Can you imagine putting in the moves with him finishing his shots? If somebody like him can jump hook, you're at his mercy," Olajuwon explained.

This training strategy resonates with what made Kareem Abdul-Jabbar an iconic scorer in the NBA. Defenders had few options against his sky hook, often leading to fouls or hoping for a miss. Yet, as NBA.com's Shaun Powell noted, the sky hook has fallen out of favor in recent years, with modern centers often playing away from the basket and not acquiring a range of inside moves as they develop.

The Evolution of the Game

Powell highlighted Wembanyama's emergence as a prime example of this trend. Each time he executes impressive plays like dribbling between his legs or shooting fadeaway three-pointers, the traditional sky hook seems to recede further into history. In his second NBA season, Wembanyama averaged 3.1 three-pointers made per game, hitting them at a 35.2% rate, which proves that he is more than capable of stretching the floor.

While it’s essential for the Spurs to incorporate Wembanyama’s three-point shooting into their game plan, the potential effectiveness of a well-executed jump hook could not only enhance his scoring efficiency but also change how other centers approach their mid-range attacks going forward.