Wembanyama's muscle gain and eight other standout moments from Spurs Media Day

It's less than a month until the San Antonio Spurs tip off the 2024-25 season and just one week until they begin preseason play. But first, the Spurs held their annual media day Monday morning, September 30, giving fans their first taste of what they can expect from this group in the upcoming season.

There's been no shortage of juicy information from the organization, from words from the new additions to the team to weight transformations, team chemistry, and more. Here's a look at some of those bits and their importance for the upcoming season.

1. Wembanyama's monstrous weight gain

It's hard to comprehend how we witnessed one of the greatest rookie seasons in sports history from the former first-overall pick. Victory Wembanyama came into the league with high expectations yet somehow exceeded them all.

One of Wembanyama's most significant concerns going into his rookie year would be whether or not his frame, more specifically his weight, would allow him to keep up with some of the best big men in the game. It's safe to say he had no issues, as he was the league's leader in blocked shots with 254 and 3.6 blocks a game.

The NBA website currently lists Wembanyama at 210 pounds, but it needs an update. The Spurs' official training camp roster was recently released, and it lists Wemby at 235 pounds, a 25-pound differential from his first to second season.

This added weight will allow Wembanyama to be much more physically dominant around the basket on both ends of the floor. He should now be just fine with defending post-ups, and it's not like he wasn't already.

It also brings a new sense of physicality, finishing over guys like Anthony Davis, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Rudy Gobert and more. Wemby also stated that he had a "big emphasis" on improving finishing this off-season. Now, fans will see Wembanyama display a whole new level of play around the basket.

2. Pop wants Chris Paul to be Chris Paul

Future Hall-of-Famer Chris Paul is exactly what the Spurs have been missing for the past few seasons. An experienced leader who's been in big-time games who can step up and be a player-coach hybrid to help elevate the younger player's games.

"He's going to be a great mentor for our young guys," head coach Gregg Popovich said Monday. "These guys haven't really had that. I can't even quantify how important that will be."

CP3 has been known to improve young teams while on the roster before they begin to play competitive basketball. Every team he's played on has experienced an increase in wins, and the Spurs have the golden opportunity to pick apart his brain to improve physically and mentally in the long run.

With Paul's experience, Popovich will not keep him on any leash. He'll allow Paul to control the game as he pleases and tell the rest of the guys to follow along. This will be crucial because guys like Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, and Wembanyama will be able to see how to approach certain situations, and they'll want to replicate that to the best of their abilities.

3. Team has had a group chat for a month with constant workouts

This is one that by default shouldn't surprise you. Every team has a group chat and has been working out together over the summer. But this is a direct result of the new acquisitions of Paul and Harrison Barnes, already bringing a new sense of togetherness to this inexperienced group.

"We got a team group chat that started a month ago," Paul said. "It’s a great group to be around & I mean it.”

It's easy to be excited about what Paul and Barnes bring to the court and the mentorship they'll provide to the young guys in game-time situations. But to have a leader that's holding this team accountable both on and off the court to bring new levels of team chemistry to the locker will do wonders for these guys.

4. Sochan and Wesley already impressing Barnes

Paul is going to provide so much to this locker room. Still, many are sleeping on the type of mentorship that Barnes will bring to the table, especially from someone who was the starting small forward in the 2015 NBA Finals, where Barnes and the Golden State Warriors were victorious in six games over LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Since he arrived in San Antonio, two guys, Jeremy Sochan and Blake Wesley, have stood out to Barnes in practice.

"In my two weeks, the one guy I definitely want to shout out is Blake," Barnes said. "He's done an unbelievable job picking up guys full court, getting active, getting steals. He's had a great two weeks.

"Jeremy's hilarious. We went to dinner the very first night I got here. I'm excited for what he's able to do for us. He can cover the best player, rebound, push the floor, run the floor. There's a lot of things he can do."

Both Sochan and Wesley are entering the third year of their careers. Sochan raised all his statistical numbers from his rookie season, and Wesley displayed he could be one of the peskiest defenders on the court. Hearing how impressed Barnes has been with them through just a few weeks could mean big things for what they do for the Spurs this season.

5. Vassell's recovery process could have been over by now

Vassell's 2024 season was cut short after he suffered a stress fracture in the third metatarsal of his right foot. Vassell attempted to avoid off-season surgery to let the bone heal on its own, but it didn't. On Friday morning, it was announced that he would miss at least the first week of the regular season due to the injury not being completely healed.

"It didn't heal how it's supposed to," Vassell said. "So I needed surgery to clean it up. I feel better now than I felt at the end of the season, so that's the good thing. It was just nagging, nagging, nagging.

"It came out that I was hurt. It is what it is, but I'm excited. I feel the most healthy that I've been in a long time. I don't want to rush back into it and have another setback. I can't wait for training camp. I'm just excited to get back on the court."

Thankfully, he will be re-evaluated on Nov. 1. If he were to return after the reevaluation, he would only miss five games, setting up his return against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Nov. 2 in front of the home fans.

6. Wembanyama is glad to have some veterans around

It wasn't the most beautiful start for Wembanyama's NBA career, as the Spurs finished the season with only 22 wins. During the first few months of his rookie year, the Spurs were faced with the longest losing streak in franchise history of 18 games.

In February, Wembanyama expressed his desire to add more veterans to the inexperienced roster. It may have taken a few extra months, but eventually, his request was granted by adding Paul and Barnes. Paul has been so good for so long that even Wembanyama can recall watching him for a long time.

"I can actually remember from watching as a kid," Victor said. "I'm really excited. Only the week we've spent here with him, all of us, we learned a lot. I think we all knew he was going to fit with us."

Combining Barnes' experience with the elite mind of Paul will elevate the play and mental toughness of these guys, who have yet to play in big-time games for years to come.

7. Keldon Johnson joins Wembanyama in frame transformations

Johnson's nickname has always been "Big Body." Well, Big Body isn't so big anymore. While the numbers show that he's only lost five pounds, there is a noticeable difference in his frame.

"Just being locked in," Johnson said. "I feel like just being in the best shape possible so that I can come into the season and hit the ground running."

Johnson is entering what may be the most pivotal season of his career after struggling with consistency last season and trade rumors all summer. But with a new number and locker room vibe, it may be the emergence of a new type of play from the former Kentucky Wildcat.

8. Sochan says Wembanyama has "definitely improved."

The bar for Wembanyama's game will only get higher as his career continues. We already talked about how hard it will be to elevate his game to another level after what he displayed in his first season, but Sochan says it's clear you can see his improvement.

"His personality hasn't changed," Sochan said. "Maybe funnier. Basketball-wise, he's definitely improved. He's one of one, and he's going to prove that this season."

We all saw what Wembanyama was capable of doing this summer when he and Team France gave Team USA a run for their money in the gold medal game. It was evident then that somehow Wemby appeared to have elevated over just a few weeks in the off-season. Now, he'll get to display his improvement to the rest of the league.

9. Sochan's changed his shooting form

One of Sochan's biggest developments over his three years in the league has been the progression of his jump shot. Former Spurs shooting coach Chip Engelland left for OKC before he could get his hands on Sochan, and it shows because shooting consistently has been one of the lower spots of his career.

Early in his rookie year, Sochan started shooting one-handed free throws, which immediately benefited his shooting percentages. Since then, Sochan has continued shooting these free throws and improving the fluidity of his jumper.

"I'd say my form has changed. Me and Jimmy (Baron) have been working on it. Getting my elbow higher and a little more out. Working on my shoulder and stuff. We've definitely been working on it."

Sochan is always working on his craft to become a better shooter, and it's paying off. His three-point percentage took a leap from 24.6% to 30.8% in the span of his first and second seasons. Now, he looks to continue improving on that trend.