Kristian Winfield: Knicks not backing down from Victor Wembanyama challenge

NEW YORK — Think Kevin Durant, but six inches taller. Or maybe Kristaps Porzingis, but — again, taller — with a mean streak on defense.

The Knicks host the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, which gives the organization its first live look at Victor Wembanyama, the 7-4 French big man who the Spurs took No. 1 overall in the 2023 NBA draft.

Wembanyama is entering Wednesday’s matchup averaging 23.7 points, nine rebounds and three assists on 39% shooting from downtown (on six attempts per game) through three November games.

He is the runaway favorite for NBA Rookie of the Year. Wembanyama’s blend of length, athleticism and shooting ability makes him an impossible cover.

“I’ll tell you what: It don’t matter what I do,” veteran Knicks forward Josh Hart said. “He’s gonna shoot over me. It don’t matter. … He’s one of those guys where, it don’t matter if you’re there. You’re not there.”

The Knicks big men, however, aren’t shying away from the challenge. Wembanyama is clearly a dominant player after hanging 38 points and 10 rebounds in a Spurs upset win over Durant’s Phoenix Suns.

Starting center Mitchell Robinson thinks he has a good read on how to defend San Antonio’s franchise cornerstone.

“I’m going to play him just like he’s one of those like Kristaps Porzingis, kind of [players],” Robinson said after the Knicks’ victory over the Clippers on Monday. “Who else plays like that? [Suns backup forward] Bol Bol? Just got a mix them two together. I kind of got a feel for how it should go.

“He’s going to be on the perimeter a lot. So I’ve just got to move my feet. So just gotta get ready for that”

Even Robinson, who is listed at seven feet even, is giving up six inches in height to Wembanyama.

“I’m not really worried about the tallness, bro,” Robinson said. “Just go out there and play hard.

“I look forward to guarding anybody, that’s what this league is about. You’ve got guard. Good players, bad players, it is what it is.”

It’s difficult to find an apples-to-apples comparison for Wembanyama since no player quite has the exact skill set with his size. Backup Knicks big man Isaiah Hartenstein’s initial response was to compare the Spurs star to former league MVP Durant.

“[But] he’s six inches taller,” Hartenstein said. “Wemby plays on the perimeter but KD was probably also more perimeter dominant than he is.”

Tom Thibodeau invoked Hall of Fame international big man Yao Ming, who he worked with as an assistant coach with the Houston Rockets.

“You look at different aspects and say, ‘Oh, that reminds me of this guy a little bit, that guy a little bit.’ But he’s unique unto himself,” Thibodeau said. “And I think it’s the evolution of the big man, too. They’re like guards in terms of, he can handle the ball, he can shoot the ball. There’s not anything that he can’t do.

“[Yao] was very skilled and [had] great touch, but not as athletic [as Wembanyama],” he said. “But we were amazed at the things he did. Just to see all the different aspects of his game, is very impressive.”

Hartenstein, who is of German descent, said he’s excited anyone of European descent makes it over to the NBA. He said the key to defending someone like Wembanyama is doing the work early and being physical, not allowing the Spurs star to get to his spots before he gets the ball.

“It’s exciting. I think it’s a good challenge for us,” he said. “I think the length he has, the different things he can do on the court we haven’t seen in the NBA before.

“I think we’re excited. Me and Mitch don’t back down to really anybody, so we’re both excited for that matchup. But yeah, it’s exciting. Having a guy like that, what he’s been doing, defensively, offensively, all of it, really good for the league.”