5 Ripple effects the five-year Gregg Popovich contract has on the Spurs

Spurs fans have been on an all-time high since their favorite franchise won the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes, and their celebration has only continued after Gregg Popovich signed a five-year deal to stick around for a little longer. There was speculation around his retirement in recent seasons, but the beloved head coach has put that guesswork to bed and committed to spearheading the dawn of a new era for the Silver and Black.

Popovich has left his fingerprints on multiple generations of hoopers that have passed through San Antonio during his 27 years at the helm, and this contract ensures he will have a monumental role in setting up the blueprint for how the team will build around Wembanyama. With their longtime leader locked in for the proverbial long haul, what ripple effects could this have on how the Spurs conduct business for the next half-decade?

1.) Wembanyama has the perfect mentor

This is not the first rodeo for Gregg Popovich. The 74-year-old head coach has nearly three decades of experience on the sidelines in San Antonio, and he has managed numerous All-Stars with an array of play styles and personalities. From Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili to David Robinson, Kawhi Leonard, and Dejounte Murray, no team has seen as much success fostering the development of their homegrown talent as the Spurs.

Victor Wembanyama became the latest generational prospect to land in the 2-1-0 after the Silver and Black selected him with the first overall pick of the 2023 NBA Draft. Expectations are already sky-high for the 7-foot-3 forward, but Popovich is the best mentor to help him learn the ropes in the NBA as he navigates his newfound level of international celebrity. There will be no shortage of hoops knowledge for him and the rest of the young core to soak in.