The answer to this question will be oversimplified by the masses. Because while there is no such thing as a “Victor Wembanyama stopper,” OG Anunoby looks and plays like he was made in a lab by mad scientists commissioned specifically to design a Wemby stopper.
It turns out the numbers back this up, as Basketball, She Wrote’s Caitlin Cooper notes:
Going this route is inevitable. But leaning on it too much risks limiting the amount of time Anunoby can roam or pitch in against one of San Antonio’s dynamic ball handlers.
Putting OG on Wemby from the jump also risks early foul trouble. Too much of this look might even exhaust Anunoby—who, by the way, is only four games into his return from a right hamstring strain. Perhaps most importantly, Anunoby-on-Wemby could prevent the Knicks from stashing Jalen Brunson on Julian Champagnie or forcing Towns to chase around Devin Vassell, Stephon Castle or Fox.
Robinson is the obvious alternative, but this presumes he’s healthy enough to play. Even if he is, Robinson is not a high-volume option. He has yet to clear 20 minutes in a single game this postseason, and he’s eclipsed the 25-minute mark just seven times during the regular season.
Towns will have to be the answer for extended pockets, if not the primary option against Wemby. Most will declare this approach dead on arrival, but the former No. 1 overall pick has defended well for most of the playoffs.
Not only is Towns physical enough to make Wemby uncomfortable, but he tends to be most effective when activated against higher-usage options. In the two non-NBA Cup matchups between these teams, the Spurs averaged just 0.91 points per possession when KAT was assigned to Wemby.
Small-sample theater abounds here. The Knicks also can’t trust Towns to stay out of foul trouble if he’s guarding Wemby full-time. Once again, this will be another fascinating chess match that could tilt the outcome of multiple games.
