Wembanyama sets aggressive standard for Spurs season with fiery media day quote

Victor Wembanyama has spoken. The standard of defense first and defense always has been set, and everyone is buying in. In a media session filled with insightful commentary, light-hearted moments, and laughs, the Spurs' franchise center was stone-faced when he delivered the quote of the day.

"It doesn't matter your status, defense is non-negotiable." - Victor Wembanyama

Wemby is the leader of this team, and he's acting like it. This organization has historically been known for its defensive identity, but it's strayed from that during this playoff drought. Over the past two seasons, they've been strong on that end when the Kraken is on the floor, but they've crumbled when it comes time to rest him.

A large part of that problem has been the unreliability of the big men who backed him up in the past. That should no longer be an issue with Luke Kornet on the roster, and Vic will be relying on that.

The Spurs should be able to maintain their defense all game this season

San Antonio's starting lineup was ninth overall in defense across the league before Victor Wembanyama was ruled out for the season. Overall, they were 21st. That kind of dip can't happen, especially when the offense was still so shaky. Both areas should see significant improvement this year.

I don't have many worries about the offense. Wembanyama is so supremely talented, De'Aaron Fox is a scoring specialist, and the roster, for the most part, complements them well. There will be some hiccups, but I expect the Silver and Black to give opposing defensive headaches with their speed, athleticism, and overall skill.

All the players who spoke to the media seemed to be on the same page with their emphasis on defense. Long-time Spurs reporter Tom Orsborn posted on BlueSky, revealing that a bunch of the guys used the word "scary" to describe their potential on the defensive end. Orsborn then provided a quote from Stephon Castle that perfectly encapsulates what fans are expecting from this team.

"With our length and the IQ we have, we have the potential to be a great defensive team" - Castle

His point about their length is an important one, and it hasn't been talked about enough. Nearly every player on the roster has long limbs. Their wingspans are all above average for their size. That's an asset that hasn't been leaned into enough in the past, but it sounds like they will be going forward. There should be plenty of deflections, steals, blocks, and disruptions when they line up against opposing offenses.

You should anticipate seeing plenty of it this year. Wembanyama said that they, along with the coaches, are going to hold each other accountable to their defensive standard. That's a long-held standard Spurs fans will appreciate seeing resurface.