The Phoenix Suns managed to surpass the San Antonio Spurs 131-106 even though they had to face a potential superstar.
Thanks for reading this article, don’t forget to subscribe!
Spurs rookie phenom Victor Wembanyama has taken the NBA by storm with his length, 7-foot-4 height and ability to make a substantial impact on the play on the court game after game.
To this point, Wembanyama is averaging 20.7 points, 10.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 63 games for San Antonio.
The Suns had another chance to keep him after losing their first two matchups of the season against the 2023 No. 1 overall pick and the Spurs in Phoenix. Early in the season, San Antonio won 115-114 on October 31 and 131-121 on November 2.
Give credit when credit is due
Struggling to build a dominant rhythm, Wembanyama was limited to just 13 points, five rebounds and four assists on Saturday night. Phoenix forced him into five turnovers.
Ensuring they could prevent ‘Wemby’ from inflicting major damage, Suns head coach Frank Vogel felt his team adjusted their game plan accordingly.
“He [Wembanyama] “It’s a tough coverage, as strong as there is in this league,” Vogel said. “He’s so unique, but our guys really competed. Kevin Durant starts on him and doesn’t just switch, but stays and keeps the game going as much as possible. Our five did a great job trying to clog everything at the rim. He [Wembanyama] it’s still moving forward a little.
Understanding the mission given to him, Suns star Kevin Durant spoke about Wembanyama and the difficulties of trying to defend him to the best of his abilities.
“It’s a team effort with him, you can’t guard him 1-on-1, he’s tough,” Durant said. “He’s so long and when you always feel like you’re playing good defense, he can always get around you because of his length and when you look up, he’s at the rim.”
Being brought into a new, higher-level situation in the NBA as a rookie could be a challenge.
For Wembanyama though, he seemed to make a smooth transition.
Observing Wembanyama’s development from afar, Devin Booker noticed his maturity at 20 years old and the strong mentality he already instills.
“Just a force,” Booker said. “What I like best about him is his state of mind, far from being gentle. He is a competitor at the highest level. After the matches, you can tell that losing bothers him, it’s not something he’s gotten used to. I have observed how he behaves, he seems to be an experienced veterinarian.
On Monday, the Suns and Spurs face each other for the final time of the regular season at 5 p.m. PT in San Antonio.
*Get the BEST inside information on Phoenix sports, exclusive content and access to our seasonal magazines! REGISTER HERE to unlock our premium content!*
Reporter Alec Cipollini covers Phoenix Sports News for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini
