Before they snapped their five-game losing streak against the Detroit Pistons, the San Antonio Spurs were in some close games. The most notable was their battle with Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks, but they kept things close against the Cleveland Cavaliers, too, losing by only two points in the end.
At the end of the game, the Spurs drove down the court, and Victor Wembanyama got the ball under the hoop with Caris LeVert guarding him in the post. But instead of going up with the ball, he dumped it off to Jeremy Sochan, who looked like he had an open dunk. However, Jarrett Allen was roaming under the rim, and Sochan turned the ball over, trying to kick it out to Keldon Johnson.
It was an ugly moment and one that led to Wembanyama getting criticized. However, head coach Gregg Popovich defended his actions. (H/t Tom Osborn of the San Antonio Express-News)
“When he caught that ball, he could have gone up, but he had a wide-open guy right here at the rim, so he made the pass,” Popovich said. “So, it’s not even a topic. He probably made the best basketball play.”
Pop defended Wemby's decision to pass to Sochan down low in crunch time at Cleveland: "When he caught that ball, he could have gone up, but he had a wide-open guy right here at the rim, so he made the pass. So, it’s not even a topic. He probably made the best basketball play."
— Tom Orsborn (@tom_orsborn) January 10, 2024
Popovich called most of the criticisms being thrown Wembanyama’s way “silly” and ignorant.”
“Every time he shot it, they said he should have passed it. When he passed it, they said, ‘He didn’t have any guts’…Just silly, ignorant comments,” Popovich said.
Pop said questioning Wemby's decision to pass to Sochan reminded him of what was said about LeBron as a young player: "Every time he shot it, they said he should have passed it. When he passed it, they said, ‘He didn’t have any guts'…Just silly, ignorant comments."
— Tom Orsborn (@tom_orsborn) January 10, 2024
Wembanyama didn’t lead the Spurs to a win that night, but Popovich was clearly satisfied with his decision-making.
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