As it turns out, Victor Wembanyama may just like playing in New York City. Or he’s on an all-time heater. Or both.
Either way, fresh off a 42-point, 18-rebound, four-block masterclass that surely cemented him into the NBA’s Christmas Day slate for the rest of his career, Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs will face the Brooklyn Nets tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET.
All the discourse surrounding Wembanyama early in the season regarded a “sophomore slump”, but that talk is long gone. In his last 15 games, the seven-foot-three Frenchman has averaged 30.2 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 3.9 blocks per game. He’s the odds-on favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year and has the fifth-shortest MVP odds at DraftKings Sportsbook.
On DraftKings Sportsbook, the Spurs are seven-point favorites and the point total is set to 213.5. Below, I’ve highlighted my favorite prop bets centered around Wemby.
Best Victor Wembanyama Prop Bets on DraftKings Sportsbook
Victor Wembanyama U11.5 Rebounds (-125)
When the Nets traded Kevin Durant to the Phoenix Suns during the 2022-23 season and then Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks during the 2024 offseason, it seemed to be a race to the bottom, and Brooklyn was expected to jostle with the Washington Wizards and Utah Jazz for the top lottery odds. Instead, while the Nets haven’t been great, they’ve outperformed expectations by more than all but five teams.
In particular, Brooklyn has put up decent defensive statistics, although these numbers have been partially buoyed by the fact that its offense plays at the league’s slowest pace. The Nets have allowed the 18th-fewest points, fifth-fewest rebounds, and fifth-fewest three-pointers attempted. Also, while he has never recovered the offensive competence that he displayed during his early years in Philadelphia, Brooklyn point guard Ben Simmons ranks 18th in defensive box plus-minus and center Nic Claxton is still a solid interior deterrent. Players have shot 12.7% within six feet when guarded by Claxton.
Meanwhile, Wembanyama has been somewhat inconsistent as a rebounder, recording single-digit rebounds in 14 of his 25 games. Even with the 18-board outburst against New York, Wembanyama has recorded 11 or fewer rebounds in five of his last seven games.
Victor Wembanyama O3.5 Blocks (-115)
Even if he might not be as effective on the boards as usual, Wembanyama is a generational shot-blocker in the middle of a historic run. He has recorded at least one block in 64 straight games, the longest streak in Spurs franchise history. Over his last five games, he has averaged a ridiculous 6.6 blocks per contest. He has as many blocks this season as the entire Miami Heat combined.
Meanwhile, Brooklyn has been one of the worst teams in the league in terms of block avoidance. Opponents have averaged 6.2 blocks per game against the Nets, more than against any team but the Trail Blazers and the Utah Jazz. After a 10-game cold spell in which he blocked three shots or fewer, he has blocked four or more shots in each of his past five games.
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All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook, lines and odds subject to change.
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skills and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
