3 things the Mavericks must do to stop Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama

1. Get Wembanyama in foul trouble

Wembanyama is a Defensive Player of the Year candidate without ever stepping foot on the court. His length and mobility are enough to warrant consideration for the highest defensive honor.

There's no getting a shot over the outstretched arm of Wembanyama. In the preseason, Wembanyama averaged 2.8 blocks per game. With that mark a season ago, Wemby would have ranked second in the league in blocks per game.

Wembanyama will get his fair share of blocks, but limiting his willingness to go for blocks is essential. Each player who recorded more than 1.5 blocks per game a season ago also fouled at a high rate. Every one of those players averaged more than 2.4 fouls per contest. It's the nature of the beast.

Fortunately for Dallas, the Mavs have one of the best foul-drawers in the NBA, Luka Doncic. Doncic averaged the fourth-most free throw attempts per game in the league a season ago. Attack Wembanyama and forcing him into early fouls is important in limiting his shot-blocking efectiveness.

Doncic and other Maverick scorers must look to draw fouls when facing Wembanyama at the rim. Evading contact is not the answer, as Wemby can use his enormous length to block any type of shot attempt.

Despite being a 19-year-old rookie, Wembanyama is a player who must be game-planned for whenever playing the Spurs. And the Mavs are the first of 29 other squads to get a shot at the most-hyped prospect in recent memory.

Although Doncic is battling a calf injury and is listed as questionable for Wednesday's matchup, fans should be excited for the potential matchup between him and Wembanyama.

For all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks and Luka Doncic this season, stay tuned.