When the San Antonio Spurs embarked on their current rebuild, they knew it was going to be a long process. What they didn’t know is that they would luck into the ability to select Victor Wembanyama with the first pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. That one Ping Pong ball changed the course of the organization forever.
However, while Wembanyama’s first season in the league was a fruitful one in terms of development, the Spurs were still one of the worst teams in the league. They didn’t come anywhere close to the playoffs, despite their strong close to the season, winning seven of their last 11 games.
Gregg Popovich admitted that the season was challenging, but he also called it “one of the most satisfying years” he’s spent in San Antonio. (H/t Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News)
“It would be less than genuine if I said it was not a challenging year,” Popovich said. “Losing is challenging. But it was one of the most satisfying years I’ve spent here, just because the caliber of the character of the guys I was allowed to coach.”
To hear that from Popovich, who has coached the Spurs since 1996, is a true testament to the character and persistence of this San Antonio squad.
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