Wembanyama's latest transformation proves Spurs master plan is working perfectly

Victor Wembanyama entered the league as a very thin young man, but he had a plan for that. The 7'4" Frenchman was going to gradually build muscle, adding weight carefully over the next few seasons so he wouldn't overwhelm his frame. Three years later, we can see he's been true to his word after a new Wemby summer photo was released.

The impressive part isn't really about him looking different. It's more about this being exactly what he and the Spurs said would happen from the jump. Vic's transformation has been approached methodically, much like San Antonio's plan for building a sustainable contender.

It goes hand-in-hand to illustrate that the Silver and Black never rushed their plan, and the NBA is seeing the benefit of it all.

The Spurs never let outside pressure change their plans

When Wemby was drafted, we immediately heard criticisms about his size. Everyone wanted him to get into the weight room immediately to bulk up. At his height, the expectation was that he'd just rush his way to dominating the paint. But San Antonio never flinched at the outside noise.

Gregg Popovich used to say, "We're not going to skip steps." Those words ring true in all facets for this franchise. The roster wasn't ready to compete, as the young guys had much to learn, and there had to be some upheaval to craft it all correctly.

At the same time, they still needed to learn Wemby just as much as Wemby needed to learn himself. So, as excited as everyone had been to see Vic in big games, there was no reasonable way to get there from the bottom floor the Spurs were on at the time.

The main attraction everyone wanted to see needed to add functional strength while developing an NBA-level game, protecting his mobility, and above all, not rushing his weight gain. It was a perfectly put-together plan that required patience.

The result of their steadfastness was a trip to the NBA Finals in year three.

The Spurs' payoff is impossible to miss

It's actually kind of funny that so many wanted Wembanyama to rush his weight gain, considering everyone's biggest concern about him is his health. It's a "We want our cake, and we want to eat it, too," kind of situation. Life rarely gives us everything at once, though.

We saw rare defensive dominance and some freakish plays on offense from the Alien in his inaugural season. That wasn't going to be enough. He needed, and now has, thicker legs, a fuller torso, and stronger shoulders. His frame needed the balance he now possesses.

While he built those things, the Spurs developed their shooters, added guards who could apply rim pressure, and made sure San Antonio was deep enough to answer almost anything. It's truly been masterful work.

The takeaway here is that great organizations don't abandon long-term plans because of outside criticism. Three years after drafting Wemby, the Spurs have stayed committed to a vision being realized before our eyes. This photo reminds us of that.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow