Victor Wembanyama has said nothing but positive things about his new head coach, but is Gregg Popovich the right guy for this team? Speaking on FanDuel TV, former NBA veteran and Spurs swingman Rudy Gay explained why he may not be the best choice after all.
“I don’t know what Pop [Gregg Popovich] you’re getting over there right now. He’s a little older now. So I don’t know what’s going on. The game has changed. I haven’t been in the locker room… but I know he knows to help the kid.”
"I know [Gregg Popovich] has the knowledge to help the kid [Victor Wembanyama], obviously it has, this guy is running away with the Rookie of the Year."@RudyGay on if Pop is a good coach for Wemby 🤔 pic.twitter.com/4NKO3XKEhQ
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) April 11, 2024
While Popovich isn’t always well-liked by the fans and media, his tactics have always brought good results for the Spurs and his methods have become renowned in the industry.
And while Popovich certainly has his flaws, nobody can question his place as one of the greatest coaches in NBA history. With five championships and 1,386 wins, there has hardly been a more successful coaching career and he’s still actively adding to his legacy today.
This season, even at 75 years old, Pop continues to run the Spurs on the sidelines and his latest quest is to shape the next generation of the franchise’s dynasty. As the first great superstar since Tim Duncan, Wembanyama has the potential to elevate the Spurs to where they haven’t been in years, and Popovich is doing his part to ensure the best path to success.
With averages of 21.3 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game on 46% shooting, Victor has been the clear-cut front-runner for MVP and he’s even joined the Defensive Player of the Year conversation with 3.6 blocks per game.
Wembanyama Will Not Be Patient
At this point, there is no question that Victor Wembanyama is going to be a star in this league and some already consider him to be among the best of the best. True or not, Victor has already expressed a public desire to win, and the pressure is building up for the Spurs to build a competitive roster.
Of course, Wembanyama is perfectly content with the Spurs for now but his patience will run thin, especially if they have more seasons where they fail to win 25 games or more.
Currently, except Wemby and one or two starters, every player on the Spurs is expendable, and GM Brian Wright will be actively looking to replace them with more experienced and better-talented veterans.
At the top of the list of candidates is Trae Young. The All-Star guard could provide a serious scoring punch in the backcourt which will help to create additional scoring opportunities for Victor.
But whether it’s Trae or some other player, the Spurs cannot afford to be complacent when something doesn’t work and that includes their head coach. If Popovich is holding this team back in any way, the Spurs must make the tough decision to let him go so they can search for the right fit.
According to Rudy Gay, Pop’s mind may not be as sharp or as far ahead as it used to be. But until Pop retires or Victor himself tries to force him out, Pop is staying put and he will be an integral part of this new Spurs era, for better or worse.
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