The Spurs' rookie additions will push Victor Wembanyama into his newest role

Next season, Victor Wembanyama's job description will be more than making astronomical plays on both sides of the floor. With the Spurs' addition of Jayden Quaintance and Tarris Reed Jr., he must take an important mentorship role for them.

This isn't to suggest Wemby hasn't already proven himself as a leader. The man took a young, inexperienced Spurs squad to the NBA Finals last season. He's done more than enough to show he has the intangibles to be a true number one on a championship contender.

But for the first time in his career, he'll be the most experienced center in San Antonio's rotation. He needs to be a shining example for a pair of rookie bigs who could be playing very important roles pretty soon.

Wembanyama must take on a role you usually see veterans play

The most impressive part of Victor Wembanyama's career is how much he's accomplished at such a young age. At 22 years old, he's a three-time shot-blocking leader, a top-three candidate for league MVP, the NBA's first unanimous DPOY, and has a Finals appearance under his belt. These aren't common feats for someone who's just now headed into his fourth season.

He's more than fit to take on a role for San Antonio that you usually only see veterans play. It's not often that an under-25 player can act as a mentor for incoming rookies or second-year guys, as they're still trying to establish themselves and find their footing.

But for Jayden Quaintance and Tarris Reed Jr., there isn't a better player to learn from than Wemby. He's found a way to blend his otherworldly basketball ability with a killer mentality and unique outlook on the game. He's the perfect guy to help guide the new kids on the block in San Antonio.

The most important thing the Spurs' rookies can learn from Wemby

I'm sure Victor can help Quaintance and Reed add some cool tricks of the trade to their offensive and defensive arsenal. They'll get some pointers on how to be effective in the paint, but their most important lessons from Wemby will be more about their mentality.

If both are healthy and available, Mitch Johnson will undoubtedly call on their numbers this season, and that could carry into the playoffs.

San Antonio needs as much interior support as possible behind Victor Wembanyama, so they should be prepared to contribute on some big stages. That's a tall ask for a rookie on a contender.

Wemby can help them understand what it takes to show up in those moments. He's no stranger to performing at a high level despite facing some unfamiliar high stakes. Take his 2026 playoff run as an example; he wasn't rattled at all by the bright lights and pressure of his first postseason appearance.

Jayden and Tarris were drafted into a dream scenario. They're playing for a young team with sky-high upside while learning behind one of the most unique players in NBA history. For Wemby, this is the ultimate sign that he's arrived as a bona fide superstar and has what it takes to play roles that few in the league can.

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