Building block: Victor Wembanyama
Wemby entered the league as the most-hyped prospect since LeBron James and more than lived up to it. The 7’4 big man averaged 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.2 steals, and 3.6 blocks in 29.7 minutes per game. He won Rookie of the Year and was named first-team All-Defense while finishing second in Defensive Player of the Year voting. All of that as a 20-year-old in his first NBA season.
Wembanyama is already an elite player and history suggests he will take a massive leap in year two. Luka Doncic went from Rookie of the Year to first-team All-NBA, and Kings James landed on the second team. Wemby is likely a top-ten player next season.
Elite players want talent around them. How long will the 20-year-old be willing to wait? The Spurs hope to play things slow and build a sustainable contender. That sounds perfect in theory, but if a superstar demands the roster improve, it becomes difficult to say no.
The San Antonio Spurs again won the lottery and drafted one of the best players in the world. Victor Wembanyama is on pace to be an all-time great like Tim Duncan and David Robinson. The franchise built championship teams around them, so have faith that they will find the right path to creating a winner around Wemby.