San Antonio Spurs rising star Victor Wembanyama has been the cynosure of all eyes since he made his rookie debut in the previous season. The youngster always wanted to be in the thick of the action and do all the work for his team.
He wanted to not only play offense but also focus on his defense. Wembanyama revealed how he discussed his role with the Spurs’ think tank and said he wanted to tick the right boxes on the court for his team.
“The best way for me to help is to not put me in a box,” Wembanyama told the Spurs ahead of his first NBA season. “[Spurs coach Gregg Popovich] knows it. He learned to know me and I’m learning to know him. We know we are going to make something original, something special.”
The youngster averaged (21.4), rebounds (10.6) and blocks per game (3.6), ranking fourth in assists (3.9) and second in steals per game (1.2) and led the rookies. He averaged the most points per possession by any rookie since Michael Jordan.
He finished his rookie year as the first player in a season to score at least 1,500 points, 700 rebounds, 250 assists, 250 blocks and 100 3-pointers. Thus, the 7’’3’ tall Frenchman was voted unanimously as the rookie of the year.
Spurs acting head coach Mitch Johnson said the young lad can do everything on the court.
“He can do everything,” Johnson said after the game. “So, when you have that many options on the menu, to think you’re going to pick the right one every time is tough. He’s a young player that’s learning how to use all the weapons that he has. There’s obviously tremendous belief and great support for him as he learns when and where to utilize all those weapons.”
The Spurs currently have a 15-13 record and they will next face the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday.
