162 shots with Wembanyama guarding: 60 went in
every shot NBA tracking credits to Wembanyama as the defender, 2026-27 so far · one basketball a shotmade (60) missed (102)
Show the numbers
| Made | Shots | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| With Wembanyama guarding | 60 | 162 | 37.0% |
| Same shooters (with other games) | 60 | 161 | 37.3% |
| Their usual rate, on those shots | 85.3 | 161 | 53.0% |
Why?
ESPN measured what Victor Wembanyama does to the space around a shooter, and our video on it ended with a question: who's actually brave enough to shoot over that? So I took NBA tracking's matchup numbers, every shot a player took with Wembanyama as the defender, and set each one against what that player makes against everyone else.
You, the average player, Wemby7 ft 4 in socks
A made-up playerLike a child drew the arms
It's the reachAn 8-foot wingspan
Shoot over that?About 10 degrees higher
A smaller court
ESPN's numbers are about room. Jayson Tatum normally needs about 4 feet of space to get a three off. Against Wembanyama's 8-foot wingspan, Tatum needs 5.
One more foot is 28 more square feet of court
drawn to scale on an NBA half court, faint lines 1 foot apart · a shooter on the wing, just behind the three-point line- Usual space: 4 ft, same as the restricted area
- Wembanyama's extra foot: 56% more court
- Faint lines: 1 ft apart
Show the numbers
| Square feet | |
|---|---|
| Inside 4 ft, Tatum's usual | 50.3 |
| Between 4 and 5 ft, the extra | 28.3 |
| Inside 5 ft, against Wembanyama | 78.5 |
One foot sounds small. Tatum's usual space is exactly the restricted-area circle under the rim, drawn all the way round the shooter. Against Wembanyama, Tatum needs that circle plus 56%.
And a shot that goes up anyway has to leave about 10 degrees higher and travel about 3 and a half feet further. ESPN says that can cost up to 40% of its accuracy.
It shows up in games
Last season opponents made 56.3% of their twos in the 18 Spurs games Wembanyama missed, and 50.4% in the 65 Wembanyama played. That's about 3 extra misses a game. This season the Spurs are letting teams make 47.9%, the lowest of all 30 teams.
The Spurs let teams make the fewest twos in the NBA
opponents' two-point %, 2026-27 · each line runs from the league's 53.9% to the teamShow the numbers
| Team | Twos allowed | v league | Made | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Antonio Spurs | 47.9% | -6.1 | 325/679 | 12 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | 48.8% | -5.1 | 268/549 | 12 |
| Boston Celtics | 50.3% | -3.6 | 252/501 | 12 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 50.6% | -3.3 | 323/638 | 12 |
| Detroit Pistons | 51.2% | -2.7 | 289/564 | 11 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 51.5% | -2.4 | 327/635 | 12 |
| New York Knicks | 51.5% | -2.4 | 251/487 | 11 |
| Utah Jazz | 51.7% | -2.2 | 321/621 | 12 |
| Charlotte Hornets | 52.6% | -1.4 | 297/565 | 12 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 52.6% | -1.3 | 300/570 | 11 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 52.6% | -1.3 | 309/587 | 13 |
| Indiana Pacers | 52.7% | -1.2 | 323/613 | 12 |
| Phoenix Suns | 53.7% | -0.3 | 286/533 | 11 |
| Orlando Magic | 53.7% | -0.3 | 299/557 | 11 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 53.8% | -0.1 | 353/656 | 13 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 54.1% | 0.1 | 313/579 | 11 |
| Golden State Warriors | 54.6% | 0.6 | 329/603 | 12 |
| Washington Wizards | 54.6% | 0.6 | 395/724 | 13 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 54.6% | 0.7 | 341/624 | 12 |
| Chicago Bulls | 54.8% | 0.8 | 310/566 | 10 |
| Denver Nuggets | 55.0% | 1.0 | 277/504 | 10 |
| Toronto Raptors | 55.8% | 1.9 | 309/554 | 12 |
| Dallas Mavericks | 55.8% | 1.9 | 350/627 | 12 |
| Houston Rockets | 56.1% | 2.2 | 329/586 | 12 |
| Brooklyn Nets | 56.3% | 2.3 | 274/487 | 11 |
| Miami Heat | 56.8% | 2.8 | 302/532 | 11 |
| LA Clippers | 57.9% | 4.0 | 303/523 | 10 |
| Sacramento Kings | 58.5% | 4.6 | 315/538 | 11 |
| Atlanta Hawks | 58.7% | 4.8 | 365/622 | 12 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | 60.6% | 6.7 | 354/584 | 12 |
Who went at Wemby
NBA tracking has 162 shots with Wembanyama guarding so far in 2026-27, and 60 went in. On the 161 taken by players who've also shot against other teams, 60 went in, where their usual rates come to about 85.
The bravest last season was Draymond Green: 33 shots with Wembanyama guarding, 10 made. That's 30%, from a player who makes 43% against everyone else.
One player hasn't been scared at all. Alperen Sengun has made 21 of 32 over the two seasons, 66% against a usual 52%.
Who went at Wemby, and who made Wemby pay
the most shots with Wembanyama guarding · one basketball a shot, orange = made · the tick is their usual number of makes- Draymond GreenGot burned −410 of 33 30%usually 43% · 14 makes
- Alperen SengunMade Wemby pay +421 of 32 66%usually 52% · 17 makes
- Jusuf NurkićGot burned −59 of 28 32%usually 51% · 14 makes
- Bam AdebayoMade Wemby pay +112 of 25 48%usually 44% · 11 makes
- Amen ThompsonGot burned −46 of 18 33%usually 53% · 10 makes
- Daniel GaffordGot burned −57 of 17 41%usually 73% · 12 makes
- Maxime RaynaudGot burned −64 of 17 24%usually 58% · 10 makes
- Nikola JokićAbout even9 of 16 56%usually 57% · 9 makes
- Jaxson HayesGot burned −29 of 16 56%usually 70% · 11 makes
- Zion WilliamsonMade Wemby pay +211 of 15 73%usually 60% · 9 makes
- Precious AchiuwaGot burned −16 of 13 46%usually 56% · 7 makes
- Domantas SabonisGot burned −36 of 13 46%usually 69% · 9 makes
- Domantas SabonisGot burned −36 of 13 46%usually 69% · 9 makes
- Jaxson HayesGot burned −34 of 11 36%usually 68% · 7 makes
- Daniel GaffordGot burned −44 of 10 40%usually 78% · 8 makes
- Alperen SengunGot burned −14 of 9 44%usually 52% · 5 makes
- Precious AchiuwaGot burned −23 of 9 33%usually 57% · 5 makes
- Keyonte GeorgeAbout even3 of 7 43%usually 45% · 3 makes
- Jalen SmithMade Wemby pay +24 of 5 80%usually 49% · 2 makes
- Shai Gilgeous-AlexanderGot burned −11 of 5 20%usually 45% · 2 makes
- Jonathan MogboGot burned −30 of 5 0%usually 63% · 3 makes
- Amen ThompsonMade Wemby pay +13 of 4 75%usually 50% · 2 makes
- Dylan CardwellAbout even2 of 4 50%usually 44% · 2 makes
- Darius Acuff Jr.Got burned −11 of 4 25%usually 42% · 2 makes
- Draymond GreenGot burned −410 of 33 30%usually 43% · 14 makes
- Jusuf NurkićGot burned −59 of 28 32%usually 51% · 14 makes
- Bam AdebayoMade Wemby pay +112 of 25 48%usually 44% · 11 makes
- Alperen SengunMade Wemby pay +517 of 23 74%usually 52% · 12 makes
- Maxime RaynaudGot burned −64 of 17 24%usually 58% · 10 makes
- Nikola JokićAbout even9 of 16 56%usually 57% · 9 makes
- Zion WilliamsonMade Wemby pay +211 of 15 73%usually 60% · 9 makes
- Amen ThompsonGot burned −53 of 14 21%usually 54% · 8 makes
- Jalen DurenGot burned −25 of 11 46%usually 65% · 7 makes
- Deandre AytonGot burned −25 of 11 46%usually 68% · 7 makes
- Cooper FlaggGot burned −32 of 11 18%usually 47% · 5 makes
- Joel EmbiidGot burned −14 of 10 40%usually 49% · 5 makes
- Isaiah HartensteinGot burned −218 of 32 56%usually 62% · 20 makes
- Jaden McDanielsAbout even12 of 23 52%usually 52% · 12 makes
- Alex CarusoMade Wemby pay +413 of 21 62%usually 42% · 9 makes
- OG AnunobyMade Wemby pay +312 of 18 67%usually 49% · 9 makes
- Shai Gilgeous-AlexanderGot burned −37 of 18 39%usually 56% · 10 makes
- Jalen BrunsonGot burned −35 of 18 28%usually 47% · 8 makes
- Julius RandleGot burned −26 of 17 35%usually 48% · 8 makes
- Karl-Anthony TownsMade Wemby pay +18 of 15 53%usually 50% · 8 makes
- Jared McCainMade Wemby pay +17 of 15 47%usually 43% · 6 makes
- Anthony EdwardsGot burned −16 of 15 40%usually 48% · 7 makes
- Naz ReidMade Wemby pay +17 of 14 50%usually 46% · 6 makes
- Rudy GobertGot burned −45 of 13 39%usually 69% · 9 makes
Show the numbers
| Player | Made/shots | % | Usually |
|---|---|---|---|
| Draymond Green | 10/33 | 30.3% | 42.6% |
| Alperen Sengun | 21/32 | 65.6% | 52.3% |
| Jusuf Nurkić | 9/28 | 32.1% | 51.0% |
| Bam Adebayo | 12/25 | 48.0% | 44.4% |
| Amen Thompson | 6/18 | 33.3% | 53.1% |
| Daniel Gafford | 7/17 | 41.2% | 73.1% |
| Maxime Raynaud | 4/17 | 23.5% | 57.6% |
| Nikola Jokić | 9/16 | 56.3% | 56.9% |
| Jaxson Hayes | 9/16 | 56.3% | 70.2% |
| Zion Williamson | 11/15 | 73.3% | 60.4% |
| Precious Achiuwa | 6/13 | 46.2% | 55.6% |
| Domantas Sabonis | 6/13 | 46.2% | 68.5% |
| Jalen Smith | 6/12 | 50.0% | 48.9% |
| Cooper Flagg | 3/12 | 25.0% | 47.1% |
| Nic Claxton | 7/11 | 63.6% | 58.8% |
| Jalen Duren | 5/11 | 45.5% | 65.0% |
| Deandre Ayton | 5/11 | 45.5% | 67.5% |
| Oso Ighodaro | 5/11 | 45.5% | 64.6% |
| Keyonte George | 5/11 | 45.5% | 45.6% |
| Joel Embiid | 4/10 | 40.0% | 49.1% |
| Trey Murphy III | 4/10 | 40.0% | 46.5% |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | 4/10 | 40.0% | 50.3% |
| Jakob Poeltl | 3/10 | 30.0% | 72.0% |
| Mark Williams | 2/10 | 20.0% | 65.1% |
| Moussa Diabaté | 6/9 | 66.7% | 63.7% |
Of the 24 players with 10 or more shots against Wembanyama across both seasons, 5 made more than usual: Sengun, Bam Adebayo, Zion Williamson, Jalen Smith and Nic Claxton. The other 19 made fewer. Flip Figure 4 to the playoffs: 156 of 369, 42%, against a usual 50%.
The blocks
The shots that do go up get swatted too. Wembanyama is blocking a game in 2026-27.
Over 3.5: 7/12 games
Show the numbers
| Date | Opponent | Blocks | Minutes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-20 | v OKC | 6 | 34 |
| 2026-10-23 | v HOU | 2 | 31 |
| 2026-10-24 | at DAL | 4 | 28 |
| 2026-10-27 | v SAC | 5 | 26 |
| 2026-10-28 | at UTA | 2 | 38 |
| 2026-10-31 | v MIN | 6 | 33 |
| 2026-11-02 | v UTA | 3 | 24 |
| 2026-11-04 | v DAL | 8 | 34 |
| 2026-11-06 | at SAC | 2 | 26 |
| 2026-11-07 | at POR | 2 | 24 |
| 2026-11-09 | at PHX | 8 | 25 |
| 2026-11-11 | at CHI | 5 | 31 |
Not everything counts
Tracking credits a shot to whoever was guarding the shooter when it went up. A shot Wembanyama changed from the other side of the paint, or one nobody took because Wembanyama was standing there, isn't in these numbers at all. And 12 games is a small season. Draymond's Warriors play the Spurs in San Antonio on 13 November, US time, a game not played when these numbers were read. I'll count every matchup again at the All-Star break.
Summary
- With Wembanyama guarding, 2026-27
- 37%60 of 16253%same players, usually
- Draymond v Sengun
- 10/33Draymond Green21/32Alperen Sengun
- Two-point % allowed
- 47.9%Spurs, 1st of 3053.9%league
The working
Definitions, sources and when the numbers were read
- Shots with Wembanyama guarding
- NBA tracking's matchup numbers: a field-goal attempt counts when tracking had Wembanyama as the shooter's defender. Copied from NBA.com (Matchups, Head to Head, Wembanyama on defence) on 13 November 2026. 2026-27: every opponent, 63 players. 2025-26 regular season: players with 4 or more shots (97); the list copied stops at 3, so those are left out. 2025-26 playoffs: every opponent, 45 players.
- Usually
- Derived: the player's field goals made over attempted in that season's regular-season games against every team except the Spurs, from Punt's database. Playoff shooters are measured against their 2025-26 regular season. A player with no other games that season is left out of the comparison: 1 of the 162 shots in 2026-27.
- Both seasons
- 2025-26 (4 or more shots) and 2026-27 added together. The usual rate is each season's usual, weighted by the shots against Wembanyama.
- Twos allowed
- Opponents' two-point field goals (all field goals minus threes) made over attempted, every regular-season game to 12 November, US time. With and without: the Spurs' 83 games of 2025-26, split by whether Wembanyama played; extra misses = the gap times the 53.4 twos opponents took a game with Wembanyama.
- Space and angle
- Tatum's 4 and 5 feet, the 10 degrees and the up-to-40% are ESPN's (ESPN on TikTok). The 56% and the restricted-area comparison are ours: the NBA's restricted-area arc is 4 feet from the centre of the basket, and 5² ÷ 4² = 1.56.
- Read
- Punt's database read 14 November 2026; NBA tracking copied 13 November 2026.
- Sources
- NBA.com, Victor Wembanyama matchups. ESPN Originals.
- Not in this article
- Help defence, shots that never went up, Wembanyama's offence, and prices.
- Sources and terms
- Every source Punt uses, with its licence, is on Credits. The terms are defined in the Glossary, and the methodology page sets out where every number comes from and the rules it follows.