Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama was a winner coming into the NBA draft, but he’s known nothing but losing in the NBA. Without a victory since early November, the Spurs are on a different level of bad right now and Wemby can do nothing but hang on for the ride as he makes a case for Rookie of the Year. In a recent chat with ESPN’s Andrew Lopez, Victor admitted that while the losses are weighing on him he still believes in the long-term vision of the team.
“I mean, of course it’s not easy. But we don’t have a choice. We have to keep going and keep grinding,” said Wembanyama. “The good thing is nobody doubts that in the long run we’ll be the winners. We have people who have the expertise and experience. Of course, I hate losing. But I stay focused on the long-term goal.”
Historically, the Spurs have always been a competitive franchise. For roughly 20 years, they were a dynasty in the West powered by legends like Tim Duncan, Kawhi Leonard, and Tony Parker. The Spurs fell on rough times when Kawhi Leonard forced his way out in 2018 but there was hope they would rise again when they landed Victor Wembanyama in the 2023 draft. Clearly, they need more time before becoming a factor in the West.
Is Wembanyama ROTY?
The Spurs have been a shocking disappointment this season, but Victor’s performance has been pretty solid all things considered. Despite the streak, Vic is showing flashes of greatness already this season with averages of 19.3 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks per game on 43% shooting. While sharpshooting big man Chet Holmgren is making a solid case of his own in Oklahoma City, Wembanyama is leading the ballot right now just based on the impact he’s making on both ends of the floor.
The biggest question now for Wembanyama and the Spurs is what comes next. With little doubt that Victor is a franchise superstar, the hard work of filling out the roster can finally begin. But amid the team’s franchise-record 18-game losing streak, it’s become increasingly clear just how far the Spurs are from being a competitive basketball team.
Spurs Are Chasing The Lottery
The San Antonio Spurs were blatantly tanking last season, but it worked to their benefit after coming out with the top pick in the draft. This time, whether by purpose or by accident, the team is on a similar trajectory and only the Detroit Pistons have been worse through the first quarter of the season. Despite concerns about the development of Wembanyama, Popovich continues to experiment at the point guard deposition, running lineups with Jeremy Sochan initiating the offense.
For a team with so little to work with in terms of talent, you can’t blame Popo for getting creative with the roster and focusing on player development over winning regular-season games. But all this losing is a poor look for Wembanyama and it could jeopardize the very culture in the locker room. For now, there’s nothing the Spurs can do to change their situation but they need to get Victor some help soon or things could get really ugly over the next few weeks.
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