Dillon Brooks Reveals His “Blueprint” for Stopping Victor Wembanyama
Dillon Brooks, the Phoenix Suns’ defensive enforcer, has declared he has a personal key to locking down San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama, and he’s claiming the entire NBA is now copying his homework.
In a bold, unfiltered assessment, Brooks outlined a specific, physical strategy that he insists leaves the 7’4″ All-Star flustered and ineffective.
“I have his number. Go check that up, and he knows it too,” Brooks stated confidently. “That’s the one guy in the NBA that I have his number and everybody is taking that blueprint at guarding him.”
The “Brooks Blueprint”: A Guard’s Game Against a Giant
Brooks dismissed the conventional wisdom of using a traditional big man to guard Wembanyama. Instead, he advocates for a smaller, more disruptive defender someone exactly like him.
“You never guard him with a big,” Brooks explained. “You got to put a guard on him. Crawl up all in his space. Guard him tight the whole time and not let him set up dribbles and then keep him away from the rim.”
Brooks’s final, biting critique of the plan’s effectiveness was a simple two-word verdict: “HE PANICS.”
By the Numbers: Does Brooks Have a Point?
While bold talk is part of Brooks’s persona, the statistical record between the two players adds intriguing context to his claims. A look at their head-to-head matchups shows a noticeable pattern when Brooks is the primary defender.
Victor Wembanyama vs. Dillon Brooks (Career Head-to-Head)
| Metric | Wembanyama’s Average | Notable Context |
|---|---|---|
| Points Per Game | 19.8 | Below his career average of 23.2 PPG. |
| Field Goal % | 41.7% | Significantly below his career average of 46.5%. |
| Three-Point % | 28.0% | Well below his career average of 34.5%. |
| Turnovers Per Game | 3.3 | Above his career average of 2.5. |
| Team Record | 2-5 | Brooks’s teams hold a decisive advantage. |
This statistical dip, combined with Brooks’s teams winning five of their seven meetings, forms the basis of his bravado.
The Bigger Picture: The NBA’s Evolving Wemby Defense
Brooks’s claim that “everybody is taking that blueprint” isn’t entirely hyperbole. As Wembanyama has taken the league by storm, opponents have increasingly experimented with using quicker.
However, Wembanyama is a rapidly evolving player, and what worked last season may not hold. He has added strength and has become a more sophisticated passer and post player.
The chess match between his growth and the defensive schemes designed to stop him is one of the most fascinating in the league.