Spurs Superstar Victor Wembanyama Intends to Complete His Entire Rookie Season

Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs intend to see out his rookie season without any early closures. Wembanyama has appeared in 58 out of a potential 66 games up to this point. His absence from the Spurs' recent matchups against the Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors last week was the first instance of consecutive missed games for him this season.

Nevertheless, he intends to limit any further absences.

He said :




Paris Olympics

Despite the upcoming Paris Olympics, where Wembanyama will have the opportunity to represent his native France, there are no intentions to conclude his rookie season prematurely. This decision stands, even as the Spurs face the possibility of just their fourth 60-loss season in franchise history, with little at stake in the current standings.

For the Rest of the Season

After a lackluster performance in the Skills Challenge during All-Star Weekend, Wembanyama outlined his objectives for the remainder of the season. The Spurs, with an 11-44 record at that juncture, have only managed a 3-8 record since then. To surpass last season's 22-60 mark, the team must secure a 9-8 record for the remainder of the season. This poses a significant challenge for a team that has yet to achieve three consecutive victories.

Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich said :


Victor Wembanyama broke through the rookie barrier

He slouched in his chair in front of his locker after the San Antonio Spurs' 117-101 defeat to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Feb. 3. Instead of addressing the media at the podium outside the locker room, he opted to conduct his postgame interview right at his locker.

Despite scoring 19 points in the loss, he did so on 5-of-16 shooting. This game marked the Spurs' seventh outing in 11 nights and their final one at home before embarking on their annual Rodeo road trip, which would keep them away from San Antonio until Feb. 29. It seemed evident that the grueling NBA season was starting to wear on Wembanyama.

Was he hitting the dreaded rookie wall?

Despite being a professional in France, Wembanyama had only played in 34 regular-season games last season. The loss to the Cavaliers marked his 44th game as an NBA player.

With his hoodie pulled over his head, Wembanyama insisted that something else was responsible for his sluggish performance: allergies.

Wembanyama, who has dedicated significant time and effort to prepare his 7-foot-4 physique for the rigors of professional basketball, maintained that he was fine despite allergies. When the Spurs resumed play three days later in Miami to kick off their road trip, he displayed a better performance, shooting 7-of-13 from the field and notching 18 points and 13 rebounds.

However, the following night in Orlando, he managed only 15 points and one rebound. Two nights after that, in Brooklyn, he struggled, grabbing just four rebounds.

Concerns about hitting the rookie wall began to emerge. There had been speculation during summer league, where the Spurs opted to rest him after two games, that Wembanyama might play around 50 games for the entire season, yet he had already played 46.

Then, just two nights later, Wembanyama delivered one of his most outstanding performances of the season: 27 points, 14 rebounds, and a career-high 10 blocks in a decisive 23-point victory against the Toronto Raptors.

In an instant, any talk of the rookie wall vanished. Since then, he has experienced one of his most productive stretches of the season, despite nursing an ankle injury that sidelined him for two games. He now aims to finish the season on a high note, both individually and for the team.

Source : Real GM
Source : ESPN