Victor Wembanyama made his Summer League debut for the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night, but it didn’t quite go according to plan. The Spurs did beat the Charlotte Hornets 76-68, but Wembanyama struggled on the offensive end.
He had 9 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 5 blocks on the night while shooting just 2/13 from the field. After the game, he kept it real about his performance.
“A special moment. Really special to wear that jersey for the first time, it’s really an honor,” Wembanyama said of his debut. “Overall, I’m glad we won this game. There’s no better way to start a career. Honestly, I didn’t really know what I was doing on the court tonight but I’m trying to learn for the next games. The important thing is to be ready for the season.”
"Honestly, I didn't really know what I was doing…I'm trying to learn."
Victor Wembanyama speaks on his NBA Summer League debut. pic.twitter.com/CvQSQ6SKga
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) July 8, 2023
It is understandable that he would have felt a bit lost at times, but there were still positives to come out of this display. He is going to be an elite shot blocker in the NBA and he showed some playmaking capabilities as well.
It is going to be a while though before he becomes a polished scorer and that is one of the areas of his game where work needs to be done. Fortunately for him, he has gone to the best possible place for it, as the Spurs have a tremendous player development staff.
Victor Wembanyama Named The Main Area That He Has To Work On Before Making His NBA Debut
Wembanyama opted against playing for France at the 2023 FIBA World Cup and he would be spending that time gearing up for the 2023-24 season. He was asked during his press conference about the area that he has to work on the most before his NBA debut and he pointed to his conditioning.
“I think there is a lot conditioning to do,” Wembanyama said. “To be able to play an 82-game season and especially the play style, we run a lot, it’s really exhausting. Even though that was only 40 minutes tonight when I was subbed out, I was always tired and exhausted so I think there’s a lot of conditioning to do.”
(starts at 4:40 mark):
The pace of the game is certainly something it appears he will take some time to get used to. He has also never had an 82-game season, so conditioning will be important to fulfill one of his reported goals of playing in every possible game.
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