Victor Wembanyama has wrapped up a historic rookie season where he seems to be a lock for Rookie of the Year while also nabbing an All-Defense selection. Wembanyama reflected on his first NBA season, believing he’s only progressed 15% towards the prime version of himself.
“I would say that I am currently at 15% between my first NBA game and what I hope will be my prime.”
Wembanyama rapidly progressed through the season, ending the year as a bonafide defensive powerhouse with an incredibly high offensive ceiling still. He averaged 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.2 steals, and 3.6 blocks this season, tallying more steals and blocks than a decade’s worth of DPOY winners.
The Spurs losing record will be held against him for now, but when the winning follows his talent, it’ll be hard to imagine him as anything less than a top-three player in the league.
It’s unfortunate that the Spurs were as bad as they were in Wembanyama’s rookie season. While there’s no major prize in the 2024 NBA Draft, San Antonio will hope that the top pick they add next to Wemby and solidify their future core.
Victor Wembanyama’s Future Needs To Be Maximized
The Spurs cannot afford to take their chances with Victor Wembanyama. They have arguably the greatest prospect in NBA history on their roster and he’s proven in his rookie season that he’s a game-changer. You can justify tanking this season to protect Wemby from injuries as the team is re-shaped around his needs, but they need to start making win-now moves this summer to give themselves a chance.
The legendary Gregg Popovich is coaching Wemby, but former Spur Rudy Gay isn’t sure if Pop is the best coach for Wembanyama given his age and experience, with a prospect like Victor possibly needing a fresher voice in the locker room.
“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.”
Popovich signed a new contract extension this season, so the five-time champion is likely going to be shepherding the team to its future for the next few seasons.
Improvement will start with personnel. with the Spurs linked to many point guards around the NBA, though speculation around Trae Young seems to be the most prominent. Regardless of the direction they take, it’ll be fascinating to see how Wembanyama develops over his second season and if his team will be winning more games.
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