Victor Wembanyama gives assurance every nervous Spurs fan needs

The San Antonio Spurs landed their franchise cornerstone this offseason when they hit the jackpot in the lottery and selected Victor Wembanyama with the first overall pick of the 2023 NBA Draft. While fans were ecstatic about their hometown team lucking into one of the most touted prospects in basketball history, the arrival of the teenage phenom sparked a heated debate about how the front office should tackle their rebuild.

One school of thought was comfortable with how the organization took a measured approach toward using its cap space to facilitate smaller trades rather than spending big bucks on the free agent market to lure household names to the 2-1-0. Others were bothered that San Antonio held tight this summer, feeling they were already running behind schedule and failing to take the necessary steps to keep Wembanyama content.

Regardless of what side of the argument you fall under, there is no doubt disgruntled superstars have left their clubs high and dry after demanding a change of scenery. Kawhi Leonard forced his way out of San Antonio in 2018, and James Harden is trying to strong-arm the Sixers. Though fans have every right to be worried, Wembanyama offered some reassuring words in his latest press conference with French media.

"The ideal start would already be the playoffs. For the rest, the best thing is not knowing. I hope it will surprise me and it will be beautiful. It’s no secret that it’s hard to win a ring. But I’m patient, and I know it will happen. Not winning my first few years is no barrier to becoming a Hall of Famer or winning five later."

- Victor Wembanyama

The skyscraping forward has yet to make his official debut for the Silver and Black, but he is already saying the right things with microphones and cameras pointed in his direction. Wembanyama has shown a level of maturity beyond his years, and it should come as little shock that he wants to fight for the playoffs as a rookie while showing patience as the Spurs gradually construct a competitive roster around him.