I think KP actually has one of the, if not the best chance in the NBA at shutting down Wemby this season when they face each other.
When you think about it , he’s only 1 in shorter. Yes his wingspan is 6 inches shorter but KP jump really high, he has a max touch of over 12 foot. I don’t think Wemby release point is that much higher than 12 foot.
Also KP is barely slower and less agile than Wemby. I don’t think Wemby has enough good handles to beat him off the dribble.He’s also way stronger than Wemby so he can’t back him in the post.
I know KP’s injuries have hindered his athleticism but I don’t know if it’s that much. I still think he has the explosiveness and agility to guard him, I might be mistaken tho.
If not, do you think pre-injuries KP would have been his defensive nightmare?
He is best defended by guys like Draymond who can keep up with him, put him off balance, deny the ball, prevent him from getting to the rim, and have good defensive instincts so they’re not overhelping and leaving other guys open. Big seven footers are usually just too slow for him, and he can generally still shoot over them due to his height and wingspan (even Porzingis is a couple of inches shorter in reality, and has much shorter arms).