Wembanyama 16/16/0 — L vs New Orleans Pelicans

The Alien Index Take

Wembanyama’s January 25th disaster against New Orleans exposed the ugly reality that even generational talents have generational stinkers. The 6-16 shooting was bad enough, but that 2-10 from three told the real story – Victor fell into the classic trap of forcing his shot when nothing else was working, jacking up desperate attempts instead of attacking the rim where his 7’4″ frame creates automatic advantages. The zero assists were particularly damning in a nine-point loss, suggesting he retreated into iso-ball rather than facilitating when his touch abandoned him.

The 16 rebounds and 4 blocks kept this from being a complete catastrophe, showing that Wemby’s motor never quit even when his shot selection went haywire. Those defensive numbers reminded everyone why he’s still the most impactful two-way force in the league, even on nights when his offensive execution looks like a middle schooler who grew a foot overnight. But watching him settle for contested threes while the Pelicans packed the paint was maddening – this is a player who should be dunking on everyone’s head, not attempting Damian Lillard heat checks.

Nights like these actually strengthen Wembanyama’s long-term card market because they prove he’s human enough to have off games that make his dominant performances look even more spectacular by contrast. Load up while the casuals panic-sell after seeing those shooting splits!