Victor Wembanyama's ascension forces teammates to accept undeniable truth

Victor Wembanyama has officially entered a new stage in his career. No longer is he this rising young star jockeying for position in people's top-ten lists; instead, he's on the brink of becoming the face of the NBA. That puts immense pressure on him, and the same goes for his teammates. They'll be held to lofty standards from this point forward.

This is a dynamic that you usually see with superstar players. Take LeBron, for example. Throughout his prime, his teammates were expected to be ready to perform at all times, as the goal every season was an NBA Finals or bust.

At just 22 years old, Wemby has entered that territory. The Spurs can only afford to keep players around him who carry the skill set and mentality to step up in the biggest moments. Luckily, he already has an amazing supporting cast that possesses those attributes.

The Spurs have already surrounded Wemby with the perfect pieces

There's a lot to admire about Victor Wembanyama's teammates. For one, they're ridiculously skilled. Whether it's Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, or Devin Vassell, the Spurs' rotation features several players who provide so much value on both ends of the floor.

Additionally, this supporting cast has the right mindset. Last season, so many guys accepted their roles on the team, whether it was Vassell and De'Aaron Fox taking a cut in shot attempts, Harper coming off the bench, or Castle taking up more playmaking duties. That level of collective buy-in is such a rarity in the league.

They set a standard of what it takes to be a teammate of Victor Wembanyama. If you want to play in San Antonio, you must be prepared to accept and shine in your role, whatever that may be. That seems like a simple concept, but it's exactly why the Spurs drastically exceeded expectations last season.

A team that grows together wins together

The worst thing that could happen to Victor Wembanyama at this point in his career is complacency. Sure, right now, he's a top-five player and the best defender in the league, but the journey doesn't stop there. He must stay committed to the process of constant improvement. Luckily, he's not the type of guy to let himself get too comfortable.

His teammates must follow suit. Wemby can add everything he needs to his game this summer, but it means nothing if others don't do the same. Dylan Harper must continue to round out his scoring attack. Stephon Castle needs to improve his decision-making. De'Aaron Fox must make a return to All-Star form.

Wemby's hunger to improve has to rub off on his peers. Like him, they need to raise their game next season to turn their championship hopes into a reality. That goes for the rookies as well. They must commit to turning any weaknesses listed in their draft profile into strengths so they're ready when their number is called.

In just a year, San Antonio went from being a team with ambiguous expectations to becoming the ultimate place to win. But donning the Silver and Black comes with a ton of responsibility. Things have always been that way, but it's even more apparent now in the Victor Wembanyama era.

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