Heading into the season, it was clear that the San Antonio Spurs’ top priority would be to begin a new era around Victor Wembanyama. The now-20-year-old Frenchman is a generational talent, and when the Spurs won the NBA Draft Lottery, it sealed their fate in the best way possible.
So far this season, the Spurs have struggled, as to be expected with any rebuilding team. Wembanyama is and always was their first priority, and head coach Gregg Popovich has always had a gameplan in mind in regard to his development. Hector Ledesma of Clutch Points recently wrote about it, as Popovich explained his strategy.
He revealed that he let Wembanyama do his things for the first portion of the season before digging in.
“It’s a process,” Popovich said. “For me, I opt to go slowly rather than quickly to decide what he’s going to be. With Wemby, it’s watching him. That’s what we did. I told our local guys for the first 15, 20, 25 games we’re just going to let him play. I mean, if he takes some ridiculous shot, we’re going to coach, but, in general, see where he ends up.”
So far, the plan is working.
“So now we have a better idea where I think he can be successful,” Popovich said. “And when you do it that way then he”ll buy in also and understand, showing him film and that kind of thing. It’s a process but you can’t just decide ahead of time and put him in it.”
Wembanyama is already making a huge impact, and he will only get better from here on out.
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