NBA unapologetically gave the Spurs a massive edge in upcoming season

The Spurs' roster is composed of young talent, but after a deep postseason run to the NBA Finals, they don't necessarily have the freshest legs. Once great teams begin extending their seasons with consistent playoff appearances, the war of attrition becomes more pronounced. That makes the extra rest the league is giving San Antonio this year a tremendous advantage.

The Spurs are tied for the most days of rest this season (94), on top of being tied for the fewest back-to-backs (13). Any naturally built-in breaks are welcome in Alamo City. Victor Wembanyama is special, but he's still 7'4" with a slender frame, so it's in the league's best interest to help protect the next face of the league.

The Spurs get the rest a championship-level team needs

I do believe that's exactly what's going on here. It's another admission that the NBA is positioning the unanimous Defensive Player of the Year to take the reins from LeBron James as the sun sets on his legendary career. It's no coincidence that both King James' 76ers and Wemby's Spurs are tied with the Lakers and Knicks for the most nationally televised games.

There are no more questions about who's got next. It's Victor Wembanyama. However, there needed to be changes to help ensure we get the best he's got to give in the biggest moments. The towering extraterrestrial faded in the NBA Finals as his energy clearly waned. So, the Spurs went out and added more depth to this roster.

Jayden Quaintance and Tarris Reed Jr. were drafted to add more size to the frontcourt. Their presence, hopefully, should make life a little easier on Wembanyama. Stephon Castle's and Dylan Harper's growth, as well as De'Aaron Fox's extra year to get comfortable, should all do the same. It eases the burden on Vic so he can dominate when he needs to and rest when necessary.

The NBA is treating Victor Wembanyama like its next face

It feels like a full-court press from both the franchise and the league. The Spurs' part is obviously more than that. It's just beneficial to have as much talent on your team as possible. That's not necessarily rocket science. But Wemby isn't normal. Added care is understandable until we know for sure that he can be durable long-term.

Contrary to what some may believe, you don't need to win a championship before being labeled the face of the league. It helps, and when you do land the title, you need to win eventually. But it's not a prerequisite beforehand. The NBA has made that clear. The Spurs just need to take advantage of the favorable treatment they're getting.

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