Photo: Peter Baba

Mike D’Antoni delivered a striking evaluation of Victor Wembanyama’s defensive impact, according to ESPN’s Baxter Holmes, during a breakdown of how the San Antonio Spurs center is reshaping pick-and-roll coverage.

D’Antoni highlighted how Wembanyama’s positioning removes traditional defensive rules from the equation when guarding screen actions.

“We always teach to be up with the screen,” D’Antoni said. “But he doesn’t have to be there.”

The former NBA head coach explained that Wembanyama’s reach and timing allow him to stay deeper in coverage while still disrupting ball-handlers and shot creation.

“He can be back and impact the shot anyway,” D’Antoni said.

He added that the French center presents a defensive profile that does not fit conventional schemes or teaching methods used across the league.

“He’s the only guy who can do that,” D’Antoni said.

D’Antoni then delivered a long-term projection about Wembanyama’s trajectory as a league-leading player.

“That’s why he’s going to be MVP for the next 10 years.”

Wembanyama’s impact was on full display in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals on Sunday, when the Spurs defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 103-82 to tie the series at 2-2.

He finished with 33 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and three blocks, anchoring a defensive effort that held Oklahoma City to 33% shooting and just 6-of-33 from three-point range.

San Antonio also controlled the game from the opening stretch, including a 16-0 run early in the first quarter that set the tone for a wire-to-wire win.

The 7-foot-4 center’s production continues a strong postseason run in which he is averaging 22.4 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 3.8 blocks across 13 playoff games.

Across the regular season, Wembanyama has built a statistical profile that matches his playoff influence, averaging 25.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks during the 2025-26 campaign while finishing third in MVP voting and winning Defensive Player of the Year.

His ability to defend space while remaining outside traditional pick-and-roll positioning has become a defining tactical challenge for opposing offenses.

Game 5 shifts to Oklahoma City, where the Thunder will attempt to adjust to San Antonio’s defensive structure and Wembanyama’s expanded role as both rim protector and roaming deterrent.