"He just had an easy dunk": Victor Wembanyama details the ordeal of guarding a 280lbs Joel Embiid

San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama has had his share of struggles when guarding stronger than him in the paint. Joel Embiid, a 280-pound center, is a force to be reckoned with when facing the 76ers. There's a 70-pound difference between Embiid and Wembanyama, with the Sixers center getting the upper hand in terms of strength and build.

Wembanyama is somehow learning on the fly while banging bodies against the likes of Embiid under the basket.

"Yeah totally learning their habits and, um, trying things, you know, trying things in the game," Wembanyama said. "Against Embiid, I tried different things and some have worked very well, some haven't worked at all."

The Spurs rookie also praised how a versatile big man like Joel Embiid can hit midrange shots with ease.

"His mid-range is just so great that you know at the nail that, like you have to choose," Wembanyama said. "Let’s say you have to choose what you want him to do. Like, you have to give him some options and like deny others, and also something I didn't do was like being the first to make the contact."

During their game on the road against the Sixers on Monday, April 8, Joel Embiid caught Victor Wembanyama flat-footed and went for a two-handed slam off a Nico Batum assist in the first quarter. Wemby admitted he got outsmarted by the veteran big man at the time.

"One time he, like, bumped into me and like with the momentum like, can’t stop him, so he just had an easy easy dunk," the rookie added.

The San Antonio Spurs lost to the Philadelphia 76ers 133-126 in double overtime. Wemby finished with 33 points, 18 rebounds, seven blocks and six assists.

Victor Wembanyama leads all rookies in the 2023–24 Rookie of the Year race

Victor Wembanyama's season may be over, but he finished on a high note, leading the race for this year's NBA Rookie of the Year title. Wembanyama concluded his debut year with the San Antonio Spurs with 21.4 points per game, 10.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists while shooting 46.5% from the field.

The San Antonio Spurs forward leads all rookies in the 2023–2024 Rookie of the Year race, per NBA.com. The Oklahoma City Thunder's Chet Holmgren is ranked in second place, while Brandon Miller of the Charlotte Hornets holds the third spot.

Victor Wembanyama held the number-one rank in the Rookie of the Year race for 16 weeks. Among his NBA rookie milestones are 42 double-doubles, two triple-doubles and 252 blocks under his name.

He is also in the running for Defensive Player of the Year. He averaged 1.2 steals and 3.6 blocks per game.