Category: Victor Wembanyama

Dan LeBatard calls out Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama and calls San Antonio boring

Several other NBA cities are clearly behind San Antonio, to start.

French rookie phenom Victor Wembanyama won’t be going out partying and enjoying the nightlife of the city of his team, the San Antonio Spurs, as some younger players might. But on a recent episode of his eponymous show, Dan LeBatard (a known fan of the Miami Heat) insinuated that would not be much of a problem in San Antonio.

The subtext here is that LeBatard seems to think that San Antonio is a boring NBA city, and compared to that of his favorite ball club, he might have a point. But it’s not as dull as it is made out to be, either.

The Utah Jazz’ Salt Lake City, The Kings’ Sacramento, the Bucks’ Milwaukee, and the Pistons’ Detroit immediately come to mind as comparable or less interesting cities in the league.

The folks behind the “Alamo City Sportscast” took a closer look at LeBatard’s words and the reality that is San Antonio. Check it out above!

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Best highlights from Victor Wembanyama’s historic rookie season

Relive some of the best highlights from San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama’s rookie season.

Heading into the 2023-24 season, there were a ton of expectations placed on Victor Wembanyama’s shoulders. Before the draft, Wembanyama was heralded as the best draft prospect since LeBron James in 2003. Throughout the course of his rookie year, Wembanyama not only lived up to those expectations, but he exceeded them.

Wembanyama was one of the best defenders in the league, leading the NBA in blocks as a rookie by a wide margin. NBA players even voted Wembanyama as the best defender in the league in The Athletic’s 2024 players poll. And as for his offense, he steadily improved on that end throughout the course of the season.

At the conclusion of the season, the Spurs’ official YouTube account posted a video of Wembanyama’s best highlights from his rookie season.

In his rookie season, Wembanyama averaged 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.2 steals, and 3.6 blocks while shooting 46.5% from the field and 32.5% from behind the three-point line.

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Report: Spurs don’t see Trae Young as fit next to Victor Wembanyama

The San Antonio Spurs reportedly don’t see Trae Young as a fit next to Victor Wembanyama.

As the San Antonio Spurs look to improve their roster around Victor Wembanyama this summer, adding a top-tier playmaker should be one of their top priorities. Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young has been rumored as a potential target, but according to Kurt Helin of NBC Sports, San Antonio may not be in on that idea anymore.

“One other note. Spurs fans have been buzzing about the team getting in the mix for a Trae Young trade this summer, as he is the most acclaimed point guard likely to be available,” Helin wrote. “League sources have told NBC Sports not to bet on that happening, as San Antonio doesn’t see Young as a fit with Wembanyama going forward. The Spurs might be more interested in the Hawks’ Dejounte Murray if he is available.”

Young’s massive contract and lack of presence on the defensive end could be potential factors why the Spurs would rather go after Dejounte Murray or completely pivot away from a deal with the Hawks.

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Spurs star Victor Wembanyama says he is ‘immune’ to distractions

San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama says that he is “immune” to distractions.

The San Antonio Spurs have a clear path forward – build around Victor Wembanyama. The rookie sensation completely took over the league in his rookie season. Though the Spurs finished toward the bottom of the Western Conference, by the time the year came to an end, it became clear that Wembanyama is a generational talent capable of helping the Spurs back to greatness.

On the court, his play on the defensive end led the way, as the rookie recorded more blocks than anyone else in the NBA. But off the court, Wembanyama is just as impressive, if not more. He carries himself like a 10-year vet.

During a recent chat with Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer, Wembanyama said that he’s “immune” to distractions. (H/t Timothy Rapp of Bleacher Report)

“I feel like I’m immune to the… distractions like partying, alcohol, drugs,” Webmanyama said. “Like, why would I ever do that?

Wembanyama’s elite mindset will be a huge advantage for him and the Spurs as they push forward into the future together.

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What do San Antonio Spurs fans think of Victor Wembanyama’s first season on the team?

Has he lived up to the admittedly tall expectations (pun intended) put forth by Spurs fans?

What do fans of the San Antonio Spurs think of French rookie forward Victor Wembanyama‘s first season on the team? The 7-foot-4 wunderkind began the season like Bambi, and ended it a serious contender for the NBA’s 2024 Defensive Player of the Year award.

And while he still has some work to do in terms of what he can accomplish on the other side of the court consistently, Wemby has taken giant steps forward (no pun intended) on both ends of the court this season. Has he lived up to the admittedly tall expectations (pun intended) put forth by Spurs fans at his arrival in San Antonio?

The host of the “Locked On Spurs” podcast, Jeff Garcia, linked up with guest Chris Leija to share the fan base’s thoughts on Wembanyama’s rookie season.

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear what they had to say.

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Spurs star Victor Wembanyama cracks alien joke in recent interview

San Antonio Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama recently cracked a joke about potentially not being human.

The San Antonio Spurs have a generational talent on their hands in Victor Wembanyama. The 7-foot-4 behemoth just wrapped up one of the best rookie seasons in recent memory and will only be looking to improve from here on out. It’s scary to think that Wembanyama just played the worst season of his career, considering how dominant he was.

His presence was especially felt on the defensive end, as he led the league in blocks as a 20-year-old. His massive stature combined with a ridiculous wingspan gives him a huge advantage in the lane, as he’s able to swat away shots that others couldn’t even dream of getting to.

During a recent interview with Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer, Wembanyama even joked that he may be an alien after all.

“I’m just a human … or am I?” Wembanyama joked.

With Wembanyama leading the charge, the Spurs are in a great place moving forward.

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Victor Wembanyama declined invitation to join Drake on stage

San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama turned down Drake’s invitation because his teammates couldn’t join him.

The greatness of Victor Wembanyama is overwhelming. The San Antonio Spurs big man has completely taken over the league, and ever since the lead-up to last year’s draft, it was clear that he would be a megastar. That said, it would have been hard to predict just how famous the 7-foot-4 Frenchman has become.

When Drake did a concert in Austin, Texas, this past summer, he even knew Wembanyama was going to be huge. So, he invited the big man to come onto the stage with him. During an appearance on the on the 7PM in Brooklyn podcast, JJ Redick told this story, but the ending wasn’t what most would assume.

When Wembanyama asked if his teammates could join him on stage, Drake’s team said no, so he declined the invitation. (H/t Madison Williams of Sports Illustrated)

“There was a Drake concert in Austin, and he got asked to come up on stage ’cause Drake was doing that with a bunch of NBA guys this offseason,” Redick said. “And Wemby was like, ‘Can my teammates come up on stage with me? ‘Cause they’re gonna be at the concert with me.’… Then Wembanyama’s like, ‘Then I don’t want to do it.’ What 19-year-old kid doesn’t wanna go up on stage with Drake?”

Wembanyama may be famous, but he not even Drake can tear him apart from his teammates.

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Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama had an absoultely incredible rookie season

A look at Victor Wembanyama’s incredible rookie season for the San Antonio Spurs.

The San Antonio Spurs had a pretty rough season, finishing as the second-to-worst team in the Western Conference. However, the clear bright side to the year was the emergence of rookie Victor Wembanyama as one of the best players in the league. The 7-foot-4 Frenchman has been absolutely incredible up to this point in his career.

Wembanyama led the league in blocks as a rookie, showing off his insane abilities on the defensive end of the court. He’s already one of the best defenders in the league. And as the season went on, his offensive game steadily improved as well.

ESPN’s Numbers on the Board podcast recently discussed Wembanyama’s historic rookie season.

Heading into the offseason, the Spurs need to do all they can to improve around Wembanyama. If they put the right pieces around him, he should be able to lead them to wild success over the next few years.

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Will Victor Wembanyama be even better with the San Antonio Spurs next season?

He challenges our understanding of how player development should work, even before he is done with his inaugural season in the NBA.

While pretty much everyone expected San Antonio Spurs rookie forward phenom Victor Wembanyama to be good in his first season in the NBA. But very few people were expecting his growth at this level to go from gangly rookie coping with the level of defense found in that league to a legit Defensive Player of the Year candidate.

But that is the allure of Wemby — he is like no player we have ever seen before, and challenges our understanding of how player development should work even before he is done with his inaugural season in the Association. Could Wembanyama be even better next season, given development arcs are rarely linear?

Or can we expect a little regression given how fast he’s come along?

To talk it over, the hosts of KABB FOX San Antonio’s “Sneakers and Cleats” podcast took some time on a recent episode. Check it out for yourself in the clip embedded above!

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Victor Wembanyama shares thoughts on Spurs consulting him

Victor Wembanyama spoke about the idea of the San Antonio Spurs consulting him about big-time decisions.

When the San Antonio Spurs drafted Victor Wembanyama with the first pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, it started a new era of basketball in the city. The 7-foot-4 Frenchman has exceeded the expectations set for him heading into the year, and that’s saying a lot, considering he was the most hyped-up rookie since LeBron James in 2003.

Now, the Spurs have the tall task of building around him. With guys like Brian Wright and Gregg Popovich leading the way, they have plenty of high-level basketball brains to work with, but Wembanyama needs to be kept in mind. More than that, he should be spoken to about the choices they make regarding the roster.

But Wembanyama doesn’t think so. (H/t Mike Finger of the San Antonio Express-News)

“They know what they’re doing, but the truth is I don’t know,” Wembanyama said. “I’m still learning.”

Wembanyama may be humble. And he may not think he’s needed in the room for big-time decisions. But he is. And he will be.

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