Three reasons why Victor Wembanyama is set up for success with the San Antonio Spurs.
It’s only the pre-season but Victor Wembanyama has already put the NBA on notice. That’s good news for the San Antonio Spurs.
The 19-year-old Frenchman looks even better than advertised early on. In his first NBA pre-season action “Wemby” had 20 points, five rebounds, and a block in just 19 minutes. That was against another rookie phenom, the 7-footer Chet Holmgren and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Wembanyama followed that up with an even better performance against the defending Eastern Conference Champion Miami Heat on TNT. A national TV audience saw “Wemby” impress on both ends of the court. He had 23 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 blocks in just 23 minutes of a 120-104 Spurs home win.
The buzz surrounding the Spurs rookie sensation has grown after each game. Wembanyama has put up great numbers, but it’s HOW he’s getting them is what has been even more impressive.
The 7 foot, 3 1/2 inch tall Wembanyama has showcased a versatile skillset and remarkable agility. He has also shown how he can excel defensively with his shot-blocking. That’s expected with his height and nearly 8-foot wingspan. His offensive repertoire is what has caught the attention of most so far.
Wembanyama possesses a remarkable shooting touch for a man of his size. The Spurs even run “Wemby” off screens to create open shots for him from the arc! He can also take defenders off the dribble to create driving opportunities – or utilize his effective step-back jumper.
Did I mention that he’s 7-3? And a half? May I also remind you that he’s just 19 years old?
If NBA coaches thought trying to gameplan for Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo (both 6-11) was tough, imagine scheming to defend Wembanyama.
Good luck.
Victor Wembanyama will be the NBA’s next big superstar if healthy. He also has an opportunity to eventually make an impact like that of two San Antonio Spurs legends, perhaps even bigger. The good news for “Wemby” is he’s with an organization that is prepared to set him up for success.
The San Antonio Spurs have developed Hall of Fame bigs in the past
The 1987 San Antonio Spurs finished 28-54, good for last place in the Midwest Division and 4th worst record in the NBA overall. They managed to win the No. 1 overall pick in the 1987 NBA Draft Lottery and selected David Robinson, a 7-1 center out of the U.S. Naval Academy.
The Spurs had to wait two years for Robinson to finish his military service in the Navy, but he was well worth the wait.
Robinson led the Spurs to 56 wins in his rookie season (1989-90). San Antonio had won just 21 games the year before. “The Admiral” averaged 24.3 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 3.9 blocks per game. He was named the NBA’s Rookie of the Year, selected to his first All-Star game, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team. San Antonio even reached the Western Conference Semifinals.
Fast forward to 1997.
The Spurs missed the playoffs after making seven consecutive postseason appearances. San Antonio had a franchise-worst 20-62 record in the 1996-97 season, good for 3rd worst in the NBA. The Spurs were a M*A*S*H* unit with most key players missing significant time due to injury. Robinson only played in six games.
The NBA lottery was kind to the Spurs once again. San Antonio won the No. 1 overall pick in the 1997 NBA Draft and selected Wake Forest big man Tim Duncan.
Duncan led the 1997-98 San Antonio Spurs to 56 wins, a 36 win-improvement from the previous season. He averaged 21.1 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 2.5 blockers per game. Like Robinson, Duncan won Rookie of the Year, was an NBA All-Star, and was an All-NBA selection – but on the First Team.
The Spurs were back to being contenders and reached the Western Conference Semis in 1997.
Do I expect Victor Wembanyama to lead the Spurs to 56 wins and the Western Semis this year? No. The Spurs added All-Star forward Terry Cummings and lottery pick Sean Elliott ahead of Robinson’s rookie season. Duncan joined a veteran group getting its franchise player Robinson back from injury.
“Wemby” is joining a young Spurs team that added Cedi Osman and Khem Birch.
No offense to either but you get my point. Still, Victor Wembanyama is joining a San Antonio Spurs organization that is one of the league’s best. They have a track record of success. It may not be this year, but it could only be a matter of time until the Spurs contend.
The success the Spurs have had includes developing and utilizing big men with generational talent. It started with Robinson, then Duncan, and now continues with Wembanyama. Through it all there has been one constant in San Antonio.
Gregg Popovich’s influence on Victor Wembanyama
Gregg Popovich was an assistant coach with the Spurs during Robinson’s rookie season. He was a second-year head coach when Duncan joined the Spurs in 1997. Twenty-six years later, “Pop” is a Hall-of-Famer who is the NBA’s all-time leader in coaching wins.
The five championships he has won as head coach of the Spurs are pretty nice too.
Popovich is still one of the NBA’s best head coaches. He’s been successful in coaching talented big men like Robinson and Duncan. “Pop” has also been successful in coaching and developing international players into stars. The Spurs would not have won four of their championships without Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker.
Victor Wembanyama is both a talented big man AND an international player.
The talented rookie from France could not have chosen a better NBA organization to join. Popovich will teach “Wemby” how to play “The Spurs Way.” He will put Wembanyama in positions where he can succeed by utilizing his strengths for the good of his team’s success.
Popovich will also have to play Wembanyama. That sounds odd but the Spurs have been the “poster-child” of load management in the NBA in recent years. “Pop” once sat Tim Duncan for a game giving him the injury designation of “DNP-OLD.”
The NBA recently instituted new rules making it tough for the Spurs and other teams to sit star players when healthy. In other words, the league is making it tougher for teams to practice load management. That’s bad news for Popovich but good news for Wembanyama.
The Spurs rookie reportedly made a request to the team to allow him to play in every game, assuming he is healthy. We will see whether or not that actually happens. The more “Wemby” plays, the greater the chances of the Spurs winning are.
The San Antonio Spurs’ past legends will offer much-needed support
Victor Wembanyama will have support from San Antonio Spurs Gregg Popovich, the coaching staff, and the entire Spurs organization. The 19-year-old rookie will also have the support of Spurs legends, an advantage one receives when joining the Spurs family.
Couldn’t ask for better role models 🖤 pic.twitter.com/lcw7cvbeTt
— Wemby (@wemby) June 25, 2023
When Duncan joined the San Antonio Spurs in 1997 it was Robinson who took him under his wing. “The Admiral” pushed Duncan in practice and helped make him better. Who better than Duncan to learn from than an NBA All-Star teammate and an original “Dream Team” member?
Wembanyama will get to learn from one of the, if not the best, power forwards ever.
It’s now Duncan’s turn to pay it forward. He won’t be “Wemby’s” teammate, but the “Big Fundamental” will be working with the Spurs prized rookie at home practices throughout the year. Duncan won’t be alone.
Both Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker are also expected to help mentor Wembanyama.
Parker has an added incentive in the young Frenchman’s success. He wants to see him playing for his beloved French National Team as early as next Summer’s Olympic Games.
Wembanyama could pick the brains of David Robinson and Sean Elliott if he chooses. He won’t have to go far to find either of them. Robinson is a minority owner of the Spurs and often attends games. Elliott is the Spurs TV analyst.
It’s not a given that “Wemby” will bring NBA titles to San Antonio as Robinson, Duncan, Ginobili, and Parker did. The 7-foot, 3-and-a-half-inch phenom has the skill set to be successful. He also has valuable resources at his disposal. It will be exciting to watch.
Time will tell if Victor Wembanyama will have a legendary NBA career. One thing is for sure: Victor Wembanyama has a legendary support system that will do whatever it can to make the young Frenchman successful.