Even though Victor Wembanyama hasn’t transformed the Spurs into an instant contender, he’s still happy that he wound up in San Antonio, writes Tom Orsborn of the San Antonio Express-News. Wembanyama was thrilled when the Spurs won the draft lottery last May, and he stressed his love for the organization on Saturday at his first All-Star Weekend appearance.
“This is really the best place for me,” he told reporters. “I said that over and over. I couldn’t dream of being in a better place.”
In his first NBA season, Wembanyama has lived up to the hype that made him the most anticipated draft prospect in 20 years. He’s the clear favorite for Rookie of the Year honors, averaging 20.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists and a league-high 3.2 blocks per game, and he regularly produces highlight plays that seem impossible for almost anyone else.
The only real disappointment is the Spurs’ 11-44 record, which has them at the bottom of the Western Conference for the second straight year. But Wembanyama said that hasn’t affected his enthusiasm for the team or his belief in its future.
“Being a Spur, you have to have standards,” he said. “The main thing is the Spurs get good players. But what matters most is to be a good person. This is why (former players) are still around the team, helping the team. These are values I like.”
Wembanyama figures to eventually become a regular in the All-Star Game, but this weekend saw him participate in two other events. His Rising Stars team lost to a team of G League players Friday night, and his Team First Picks squad finished last in all three portions of Saturday’s Skills Challenge.
He plans to return next year and indicated that he may try the dunk contest or the three-point competition.
Wembanyama was a topic of discussion among some of the league’s more established players at Saturday’s media day, Orsborn adds. Giannis Antetokounmpo said, “As long as Victor is healthy, the league is his,” and Kevin Durant added, “It’s just insane how dominant he’s going to be as he gets more comfortable in the game.”
Asked about the rest of the season, Wembanyama focused on team goals, including trying to exceed the 22 wins the Spurs got last year. While he’s flattered by the attention from the league’s top stars, he said he won’t let the comments affect him.
“Of course, I appreciated it, especially from guys I’ve looked up to for years since my childhood,” Wembanyama said. “But I don’t let — coming from anybody, it could be my family, my agents, my favorite players — these (compliments) define how I feel about my career and my progression. I appreciate it. It’s very nice, but I’m keeping my head light.”
This is just negligence on the part of the spurs. A generational talent falls in their lap (again) and they entertain Pops delusion of playing a guy who can’t pass, shoot, or dribble as their starting PG. Meanwhile their only Pg on the roster has continued to toil away as a reserve even after pulling the plug on the disastrous sochan experiment.
Even pg woes aside, the rest of the team doesn’t seem to recognize that Wemby is who he is. As chuck put it, everyone thinks they can be the number one guy on this team. It’s gotten a little better, but we still see instances like vassell shooting a 30 footer for the win instead of hitting a wide open wemby rolling to the rim (not a vassell guy btw purely bc of such ball hog tendencies). Wemby is too nice to step in but I can’t imagine the frustration of being a spurs fan. Hopefully they trade some of the hawks picks back for trae young and start taking this thing seriously.
Spurs got Wemby in the first place for a reason — they sucked. So the idea that he should immediately be surrounded by players that make them a contender is ridiculous.
They are rebuilding. Adding a great player helps, but it’s step one. Even if they had an all star point guard, that’s 2 players and a middling roster.
Look at the Suns, Milwaukee, hell even Warriors. They all have tons of talent and still struggle. Wembemyama isn’t better than any of those teams best players. It’s silly to think he is going to immediately change the franchise.
It’s anathema in 2024 but have some patience ffs
My point wasn’t abt the spurs being a good team. I accept that they’re bad, I didn’t say anything abt that, my critique is abt the way they play and the failure to properly structure lineups around Wemby. Ofc I don’t expect them to be good anytime soon but that doesn’t mean they should ignore building good habits, such as feeding Wemby more and playing an actual point guard.
“The kind of player that can help him win a championship, make his job easier… That’d the type of player he needs.”
– Trae Young on what type of player Wemby needs.
Trae is gonna be on the market in the offseason, and few players of his caliber are ever availanle on the market. Unless the Spurs draft a star PG it’s now or never. No other team in the league will be able to match their package.
what would their unbeatable offer for Trae be?..
P sure vassell, 3 picks, and whatever else hawks want (branham, swaps etc ) would be enticing
Especially considering those picks would be atlanta recouping their own from the Murray trade.
Wemby is only 20. He still has a bit to learn. Popovich knows a thing or two about Hoops. They have plenty of time to build a team around him. It is hardly a now or never situation.
I just checked. They have 10 1sts and 10 2nds over the next 4 drafts. Don’t think they’ll have much trouble finding players.
What’s he going to say? “Honestly, this has been a nightmare. This team couldn’t beat a 9th-grade club. I want out”?
I predict he will spend his entire career with spurs ! For whatever reason a guy with no ties to the city of San Antonio ends up there and makes it there home or home away from home ! Elliot,Robinson, Parker ,Duncan and manu ! Kawhi the lone exception! Some of them even predate pop !
So he will spend his entire career with spurs book it !
As much praise as he gets he still has a lot of work to do to make himself great. He looked like a rookie in the rising stars game. Spurs needs to put good players around him. #1 priority should be a great PG that can pass and hit 3s.
Interesting draft coming up for San Antonio. Do you draft that Serbian kid @ the point, seems like a spurs type. Or could they pick up Alex Sarr and go twin towers with the two French bigs. Side note. France have a crazy crazy production line on the way, so much young talent projected high.
SAS is STILL tanking. I don’t think its any more complicated than that. Pop is certainly no stranger to tanking. Some say he invented it, and nobody would agrue he’s been it’s greatest beneficiary. Depriving a young team a competent PG is a GREAT way to tank, as it almost assures losing regardless of anything else. That’s not delusional, that’s purposeful.
It is rare (maybe unprecedented?) for a team that tanks their way to a generational talent to continue to tank the following season(s). But it was inevitable that some team would eventually. You can’t stop progress.
Who cares how Wemby feels? It’s year 1. No other player gets this kind of nonsensical treatment, nor has he even hinted about being unhappy
Now, if the Spurs are somehow as bad as they are now at this point next season, that’s a different story. Until then it’s a stupid, lazy narrative.