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Did SportsCenter X account make up impressive Victor Wembanyama stat?
TL;DR
Victor Wembanyama had an impressive postseason debut, scoring 35 points and showcasing strong defense. However, ESPN's SportsCenter account on X claimed the Trail Blazers shot 0-of-11 against him, raising questions about the accuracy of that stat.
Key points
- Victor Wembanyama scored 35 points in his postseason debut
- He made 5-of-6 three-point attempts
- ESPN's SportsCenter claimed the Trail Blazers shot 0-of-11 against him
Victor WembanyamaSan Antonio SpursPortland Trail Blazers
At this point, it's abundantly clear that it might be a matter of when, not if, Victor Wembanyama becomes the NBA's best player.
First of all, the third-year superstar is already a league MVP finalist. Second of all, he just dropped 35 points (5-of-6 from the 3-point line!), five rebounds, and two blocks in his postseason debut during the San Antonio Spurs' Game 1 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday night. Wembanyama did that while predictably being a menace on defense, who helped wall off the paint from the Trail Blazers. Portland shot a meager 43 percent from the field.
All this is to say that how special Wembanyama is is obvious to anyone who has ever watched basketball. We don't need to make up achievements and statistics that make him look more dominant when his play already does the talking.
That appears to be what ESPN's SportsCenter account on X did on Sunday evening. It made a bold claim that the Trail Blazers, as a team, shot 0-of-11 when trying Wembanyama as the direct, "contesting" defender. Given Wembanyama's sterling defensive reputation, you normally wouldn't think twice about seeing such a statistic.
The eye test matches the numbers.
But I put "contesting" in air quotes because it's not entirely clear what that word really means here.
Why do I say that?
It's just one example, but the clip below shows Portland's Deni Avdija scoring on Wembanyama after driving on him. Clearly, that would not align with that bold contesting statistic:
As noted by an X user, the NBA's official tracking data also maintained that Trail Blazers players were 7-of-16 when challenging Wembanyama as a defender. That's under 44 percent and still quite good, but not 0-of-11 incredible.
Without knowing exactly how ESPN and SportsCenter define a contested shot in this situation, I can't say that these platforms outright lied about Wembanyama's Game 1 defensive prowess. However, at a surface-level glance, it's very hard to find exactly where they got these numbers. They seem to have come out of thin air, with the implication being to make Wembanyama's playoff debut appear more extraordinary than it already was. That, or someone saw potentially miscalculated data they saw somewhere and ran with it because of Wembanyama's profile.
Q&A
What were Victor Wembanyama's stats in his postseason debut?
Victor Wembanyama scored 35 points, made 5-of-6 three-pointers, grabbed five rebounds, and recorded two blocks in his postseason debut.
Did the Trail Blazers really shoot 0-of-11 against Wembanyama?
ESPN's SportsCenter account claimed the Trail Blazers shot 0-of-11 when Wembanyama was the direct defender, but the accuracy of this statistic is in question.
Why is Victor Wembanyama considered a top NBA player?
Victor Wembanyama is seen as a top NBA player due to his impressive skills, including being a league MVP finalist and his dominant performance in games.
