The most hyped NBA rookie since LeBron James lived up to expectations.
By any metric, Victor Wembanyama was an immediate force of nature last season. Not only did he lead all NBA rookies in scoring (21.4), rebounding (10.6), and blocks (3.6) per game; the No.1 overall pick of the 2023 draft and 2024 NBA Rookie of the Year also became the first player in league history to amass 1,500 points (1,522), block 250 shots (254), and make 100 three-pointers (128) in a single season.
Also, Wembanyama is already a premier defender. He had the NBA’s second-best defensive rating and finished second in voting for Defensive Player of the Year. He did all this, and he’s not even old enough to purchase alcohol legally. Barring injury, Wembanyama is on track for a Hall of Fame career.
“If he’s everything that I keep hearing about as far as his work ethic — and I’ve heard the kid is extremely humble and works extremely hard — he’ll be the best player in the NBA in three years,” former coach and player Byron Scott told The Athletic.
What’s next for Wembanyama? Leading the San Antonio Spurs to the playoffs should be a sophomore goal. The last time the franchise was in the postseason was before the pandemic (2019).
As dominant as Wembanyama was, the Spurs (22-60) were the second-worst team in the Western Conference. That was the same record the season before his arrival. Certainly, you can’t blame him. He was going through on-the-job rookie training. But now that he has a season under his belt, the expectations will ramp up.
Wembanyama played on the NBA’s youngest team last season. This season, the Spurs have added experience by signing point guard Chris Paul. The 39-year-old is coming off a career-worst season. While he struggled with the Golden State Warriors, San Antonio hopes his veteran leadership will positively impact its young core. Remember those alley-oop passes Paul used to throw to Blake Griffin a decade ago? Imagine Paul doing the same with 7-foot-4 Wembanyama.
Despite adding vets Paul and Harrison Barnes, San Antonio will still be in an embryonic stage. One of its key additions is rookie guard Stephon Castle, the No. 4 overall pick. While he won a national championship with Connecticut last year, he will go through the usual NBA growing pains.
San Antonio’s improvement will hinge on how quickly Wembanyama grows in his second year. It will also depend on the strength of the West. Vegas expects the Spurs to be better. Betting odds have their win total at 35.5. That probably won’t be good enough. Last year’s No. 10 seed in the Play-In Tournament, the Warriors, went 46-36.
The West figures to be stacked again, as the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Dallas Mavericks, and the Denver Nuggets could all reach 50 victories.
The man in charge of getting the most out of the Spurs is 75. How much longer Gregg Popovich will coach? He’s under contract through the 2027-28 season. Plans can change. But for right now, after winning five NBA championships, reaching the playoffs in his second season with Wembanyama would be a remarkable feat.
“Our expectations are the same as they’ve been since the first year I coached,” Popovich said, according to SI.com. “We want to be the best possible team we can be. It was never a point of discussion at all, (how many games won), and it never will be.”
San Antonio opens the regular season on Oct. 24 at Dallas.
About Michael Grant
Born in Jamaica. Grew up in New York City. Lives in Louisville, Ky. Sports writer. Not related to Ulysses S. Grant.