It seems like the San Antonio Spurs have found their next greatest of all time (GOAT), based on their performance in a few preseason games.
On a Friday night, the Golden State Warriors were introduced to the upcoming sensation of the NBA. This happened when Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs came for a preseason friendly. The game started in an amusingly ridiculous way, with Wembanyama and Stephen Curry competing for the opening tip despite their significant height difference.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72778632/1747562987.0.jpg)
After that moment, the spotlight was solely on Wemby for the following 20 minutes and 35 seconds he spent on the court.
The first pick in the draft had a great game, scoring 19 points, grabbing four rebounds, and blocking five shots. He was amazing on defense and made some really impressive offensive plays. Even though it’s just the preseason, it’s hard not to be extremely excited about his potential.
The performance by Victor Wembanyama during the preseason game left everyone in awe. His incredible combination of length, mobility, and coordination were on full display, and both ends of the court saw some impressive action. His highlight reel was extensive, and even the NBA Twittersphere was buzzing with excitement. Wembanyama’s moves included a contested pull-up jumper, an and-one falling away behind the backboard, a blocked Klay Thompson 3-point attempt, a dunk with Stephen Curry flying by in transition, a demeaning block on Andrew Wiggins, and a transition 3 – all achieved within just 90 seconds. Safe to say, it was a spectacular performance that had everyone talking.
Unquestionably ridiculous! Wembanyama’s unique skills are incomparable, and he appears to be unbeatable on defense while being a natural first-choice player on the offensive end. With his exceptional shooting abilities, tackling the toughness of NBA defense seems effortless, and with Wemby guarding the restricted area, the Spurs’ defense will undoubtedly improve significantly. Even Klay Thompson, known for his flawless 3-point shooting mechanics, had his shot blocked by Wembanyama, who took off from the restricted zone. This is a rare occurrence, indeed.
Although it’s just the preseason, Wembanyama hasn’t experienced the complete analysis from the opposing team yet. Furthermore, Draymond Green wasn’t present in the game to provoke him. These are important factors to consider, but most of what we witnessed from the French player is still impressive. His gentle touch, ability to coordinate in traffic, and incredible length combined with quickness will continue to be valuable even in official games.
It’s premature to declare the Spurs as challengers, particularly in the fiercely competitive Western Conference. Nevertheless, the team is showing promising signs with players such as Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Jeremy Sochan, and the entire squad making strides forward. Coupled with Wembanyama’s impending rise to stardom, it may not be long before the San Antonio team starts racking up victories – many of them. Wembymania is already in full swing, even before the start of the regular season. Despite it being just the preseason, he has already silenced his critics. As the first overall pick, there is no doubt he deserves the hype. Soon enough, the rest of the league will see why.