NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
Despite entering the season with huge expectations, the San Antonio Spurs don’t have much to offer Victor Wembanyama. Wins are and will not be easy to come by but he will put up numbers.
The Spurs have a handful of wins. Let’s correct that, they have less than a handful of wins. However, the new face of their franchise is averaging 18.8 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks while shooting .431 percent from the floor. While he’s been good, the Spurs need him to be exceptional. But it’s not his fault.
The Spurs roster reads like a G-Legue team. Keldon Johnson is being paid top-scorer money but he’s inconsistent. The same can be said for Devin Vassell. This trio should have the Spurs at least in the 8-win market but that has not happened.
One has to wonder what the San Antonio Spurs organization has up their sleeve. Another lottery pick will help but where do they start? The Spurs need a facilitator. Jeremy Sochan is not the answer there with his 4.1 assists per game. Who is the person to get Wemby the ball in his sweet spot?
As it stands, it’s all about the perimeter game for this team. They average 37.2 shots from deep but only hit .336 percent. Wemby himself shoots 5 per game. With his size advantage, he needs to be on the blocks dominating. As much heat as Rudy Gobert gets on the regular, he knows and understands his strengths and weaknesses. While Wemby can shoot, that does not mean he should have the green light whenever.
Can The San Antonio Spurs Keep Victor Happy
He’s young, he will eventually learn the NBA and when and where to pick his spots. The losing, although early, can take a toll on a young player. This is something the San Antonio Spurs haven’t had to deal with, with such a high-profile pick in the past.
If they can’t find the right mixture of talent to go with Victor Wembanyama, then they could lose him when he becomes a free agent. This is why it’s a must for them to identify his strengths and build the roster around them. It appears now that they’re just going through the motions and letting the team get a feel for his talents. This is still a Gregg Popovich-coached team so we know there is some sort of structure there.
But that’s another issue that will need to be addressed. How much longer will Pop be around to mentor this young man? There’s a good chance that he will hang it up after this season or next. Then the next coach and Wemby may not see eye-to-eye. This is the nature of this business and one the San Antonio Spurs have not had to deal with for decades.
From David Robinson to Tim Duncan to Kawhi Leonard, the Spurs have always had a steady hand at the top to deal with their superstars. But Pop won’t be around forever and while wemby has shown flashes of greatness in a short amount of time, it all could be a smoke screen if things continue to go south.
