SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The San Antonio Spurs tried to offer David Robinson and Tim Duncan with all the pieces they wanted to develop shortly, however they have been a bit missing when it got here to their new famous person, Victor Wembanyama.
Robinson and Duncan had veteran gamers like Paul Pressey, Terry Porter and Avery Johnson to assist mentor them by their early years within the NBA. As a 20-year-old rookie, Wembanyama’s teammates have been primarily across the similar age with just one to a few years extra expertise.
“You consider the people who got here when Timmy, Manu (Ginobili) and Tony (Parker) have been right here,” San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich stated. “That they had good examples to comply with, (gamers) who had been within the league for some time. That is vital within the improvement of a participant. These guys, for essentially the most half, have not actually had that. Even Victor, he is clearly tremendous proficient, however he additionally wants it, like all the opposite younger folks.
Enter Chris Paul and let go of all of the questions on veteran management in San Antonio.
“I watched him (develop) so much,” Wembanyama stated. “He’s a participant I bear in mind watching as a child. I am actually excited concerning the (one) week we spent right here with him. All of us realized so much. All of us knew he was going to regulate to us, however the best way he tries to do his finest to slot in with us, to show us from day one.
The Spurs signed Paul and traded for Harrison Barnes to assist gasoline what was the youngest group within the league final season. Paul and Harrison carry a mixed 33 years of enjoying expertise and 220 playoff video games to a group hoping to finish a five-year playoff drought.
“I feel the most important factor I hope I can carry to this group is competitiveness,” Paul stated. “We speak about it on a regular basis. Enjoying laborious is a expertise, nevertheless it’s not sufficient. This group right here has already proven the power to play laborious and compete evening in and evening out, however now now we have to determine the way to translate that into wins.
With the Spurs successful 22 video games in every of the final two seasons, expectations are excessive for a playoff push behind the distinctive abilities of the 7-foot-3 Wembanyama. San Antonio tied an NBA report with 22 consecutive playoff appearances underneath Robinson and Duncan earlier than this present rut.
Coming into his twentieth season, Paul has lengthy been thought of one of many league’s nice leaders. He was named All-NBA 10 occasions, together with 4 first-team choices, was named to the All-Defensive first group seven occasions, was a 12-time All-Star, and led the league in assists 5 occasions .
“His IQ is off the charts,” Popovich stated. “It was at all times troublesome to play in opposition to him as a result of he anticipated the coaches.”
Most significantly for San Antonio, Paul has spent his whole profession as some extent guard since 2008 in New Orleans, when he was named Rookie of the Yr.
The Spurs tried to transform ahead Jeremy Sochan into a place to begin guard final season, however the experiment failed. San Antonio went 3-20 to open the season as Sochan struggled to study a place he had by no means performed earlier than at any degree.
The expertise additionally slowed Wembanyama as he opened up at energy ahead earlier than shifting to heart to start his rise to Rookie of the Yr honors.
Wembanyama averaged 21.4 factors, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.2 steals and was the youngest participant to guide the league in blocks with 3.6 per sport. He was additionally the primary participant in league historical past to achieve 1,500 factors, 250 blocks and 100 3-pointers in a season and joined Duncan and Robinson as the one rookies in league historical past with not less than 30 factors, 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 blocks. in a sport.
“He’s a canine,” Sochan stated of Wembanyama. “That’s his definition. On the sphere what he does is unimaginable, nevertheless it’s due to the work he does (off it). When there aren’t any cameras, nobody round, the work he does mentally and bodily, he simply works and it is superb to see.
What can Paul do to assist Wembanyama change into even higher? Educate him to dunk, Paul stated jokingly.
“For me with him, it’s simply going to be about attempting to assist him settle in additional,” Paul stated. “Coming right here as a rookie like him with all of the expectations and for him to play in addition to he has and realizing the expectations that will probably be behind this 12 months, I feel I can simply hopefully l assist in his development and simply assist him the place I can. »
Having the chance to start out was a giant think about Paul signing with Spurs. The 39-year-old has began a career-high 18 video games for the Warriors.
At 39, Paul is by far the oldest participant within the Spurs squad and his youthful teammates ensure that he is aware of it.
Rookie Stephon Citadel reminded Paul that he attended considered one of his youth camps and joked that his father, Stacey, performed at Wake Forest with him — Stacey truly performed with Duncan. Keldon Johnson additionally gave up the quantity 3 to Paul, who impressed the 24-year-old to decide on that quantity within the first place.
“Moreover enjoying basketball and basketball, we spend a number of time collectively,” Paul stated. “They’re an amazing group to be round. I can actually say that, and I imply it.
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