San Antonio Spurs centerpiece Victor Wembanyama is in just the second chapter of what should be a storied NBA career. Already, the 2023 No. 1 pick has been a godsend for the franchise, giving the Spurs hope that they can rise from the ashes of their former dynastic like a red and gold-plumed phoenix. As a rookie, the Fawkesian Frenchman flashed his otherworldly potential repeatedly. So much so that the light is still on.
There have been several prospects, including former No. 1 picks, who haven’t been able to live up to the hype. However, Wembanyama is no Kwame Brown, who went his entire NBA career without earning a single accolade.
Wembanyama wrapped up his historic 2023-24 season with a landslide victory in the Rookie of the Year race. He was the runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year, an award he seems likely to win multiple times. Due to his all-around impact and the difficulty teams have guarding him, a Most Valuable Player Award could be ahead of him.
Wembanyama is cognizant of this.
Spurs’ Victor Wembanyana Proving He’s Wise Beyond His Years
“I want to be an All-Star,” Wembanyama tells reporters (h/t Dusty Garza of News 4 San Antonio), “but that will come If I help my team in the best way, I’m sure l’ll be an All-Star.”
This Wemby guy, he really seems to have his head on the right way. 😉💪🏽🏀#PorVida #NBA #AllStar #Wembanyama pic.twitter.com/dsqEdIB6zI
— SpursRΞPORT (@SpursReporter) October 2, 2024
“In the end, if I help my team in all areas of the game, I should be in the conversation for all the trophies.”
That level of maturity is exactly the type of mindset Wembanyama needs. Pretending that he has no interest in individual recognition is good for a soundbite but it’s not realistic. Players don’t make it all the way to the NBA in hopes of posting up in the shadows.
However, some players care too much about their individual glory, which has a negative impact on their team. They might be too ball-dominant, undermining team-oriented precepts like ball-movement. They might be too self-absorbed, which could turn off their teammates and limit chemistry.
Wembanyama appears to have found the perfect balance between focusing on himself, his teammates, and the franchise as a whole.
“There will be no more room for mistakes… I want to be a leader by example,” Wembanyama says during Media Day. “Leader in the locker room too, but above all on the court… Both tactically and in the spirit of the group, I want to be the base of the defense and also a playmaker in attack.”
“If I am within my standards and I help the team in the right way,” he continues in his thick Francophone accent, “I will have a leading role in attacking (offensively) and defensively.”
The Spurs Have Gotten Better
Wembanyama will have more help than last season, particularly at point guard. While Chris Paul is past his prime at 39 years old, there’s no denying that the 12-time All-Star is one of the best players at his position, historically. Paul will help Wembanyama simply by finding him in pick-and-rolls and under the basket more often.
The Spurs also traded for 2012 No. 7 pick Harrison Barnes and drafted 2024 No. 4 pick Stephon Castle, who enhance the team’s basketball IQ. Meanwhile, players like Malaki Branham and Blake Wesley appear to have improved during the offseason. Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson are still San Antonio’s most valuable wings, but if Branham and Wesley have leveled up, it takes some pressure off of them as well.
The Spurs haven’t revealed whether they have a target number of wins next season. Nonetheless, they should have a better record than they did in 2023-24, when they went 22-60.
