By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Progress is apparent for Victor Wembanyama since joining the San Antonio Spurs, both individually and as a member of the team. However, winning games is a rarity. His side fell to 7-32 on Monday.
Coming out of a disappointing first half, head coach Gregg Popovich relied on reserve players to start the second half against the Atlanta Hawks in State Farm Arena. Wemby stayed on the bench. Bouncing back with all of his 26 points after the break, he almost led the Spurs back from a 35-point deficit before settling for a loss.
“I think it is important to sometimes learn a new role. Put the conditions to realize what we should do,” commented the promising French upstart, “The majority of the bench players showed us how to do it in the second half. It worked.”
“I like to be threatened. Send me to the G League, if I do not play the right way,” added Wembanyama, the top pick of the 2023 draft, “I like when there are consequences to my mistakes.”
Logging 27 minutes of action on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the youngster ended up with a 26-point, 13-rebound double-double to go with five blocks, two assists, and two steals.
Asked about heading to the Taco Bell Skills Challenge of the 2024 NBA All-Star Game, he shared his excitement. “For sure, it is something I wanted to do in my life,” he mentioned on displaying his talents in Indianapolis.
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