Meredith Garcia
Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich speaks to reporters on the workforce’s media day occasion on Monday.
Through the Spurs’ media day on Monday, Coach Gregg Popovich stated followers can count on the workforce to select up extra wins for the 2023-2024 season than it did through the earlier one.
Even so, the Corridor of Fame coach stopped in need of calling the franchise a championship contender, even with the addition of No. 1 draft choose Victor Wembanyama.
“Improvement is nice, and all these guys wanted it,” Popovich stated of final 12 months’s season. “They’ve made some huge jumps, and although there wasn’t a ton of wins, even within the losses, there have been some nice moments, some actual competitiveness on the a part of lots of these guys.”
Popovich continued: “After all, we add a participant with Victor’s capabilities, and your prospects look rather a lot higher. However this 12 months, with growth, I believe one of many vital elements to reinforce that growth is profitable. So profitable is as vital this 12 months as studying final 12 months. So, they have to proceed to study. However, including extra wins, I believe, is suitable, necessary and useful.”
That is a extra upbeat perspective than Popovich had going into the prior season, when he made headlines by saying nobody ought to wager on the Spurs profitable the title.
An expectation of profitable shall be music to the ears of San Antonio sports activities followers, who endured the third-worst season in franchise historical past final 12 months — an abysmal 22-60 report.
Though Popovich stopped in need of commenting on this season’s championship prospects, he did say that he tells all his gamers the identical factor: “You wish to be the perfect workforce that may be by playoffs.”
Whereas it could be unrealistic to imagine 19-year-old rookie Wembanyama can lead the Spurs to a championship or perhaps a deep playoff run, ahead Devin Vassell stated the season appears promising.
“Vic has are available in right here, and he is principally match completely,” Vassell instructed reporters. “He is available in, he asks questions. As a rookie, he got here in somewhat nervous, however I believe he is beginning to get extra comfy, and you’ll see it on each side of the court docket.”
In the meantime, Wemby stated he is targeted on studying what it takes to be a profitable NBA participant.
“All my expectations are actually to study and the right way to win as fast as doable,” Wembanyama stated. “Everybody right here, besides rookies, are extra skilled than me. So, I obtained an entire lot to study.”
The Spurs’ season kicks-off towards the Dallas Mavericks at 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 25 at Frost Financial institution Heart. Tickets are on sale now, and the sport shall be nationally televised on ESPN.
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