San Antonio basketball followers’ social media accounts lit up after ESPN commentators speculated that Spurs famous person Victor Wembanyama is bored with dropping and should request a commerce.
Throughout Tuesday’s episode of NBA In the present day, ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne stated the French rookie could soar to a different workforce except Spurs administration can encompass him with gamers at his stage.
“Victor is right here. Victor is able to win,” Shelburne stated. “I do know [the Spurs] have this concept that they’ll take two or three years and discover the precise core, they usually’re all going to be on the identical timeline. However, I do not understand how affected person [Wembanyama] goes to be as a result of, after I watch him play, that man is aggressive. He desires to win.”
Shelburne stated she provides Wemby a 12 months till he requests a commerce, including “I do not suppose he desires to sit down right here on the backside of the lottery standings.”
Co-host Kendrick Perkins agreed.
“Look, for the primary time, the strain is on Gregg Popovich and the San Antonio Spurs,” the Celtics legend stated. “They higher get the items round him, as a result of this child is completely different. He is considering in a different way as an previous soul. He is about successful now; he is not attempting to lose.”
San Antonio sports activities personalities and Spurs followers took to social media to name bullshit.
Longtime Specific-Information columnist Cary Clack identified in a tweet that analysts stated the identical factor about Spurs legends David Robinson and Tim Duncan at first of their careers.
“Thirty-five years later and 5 championships later, they usually nonetheless cannot comprehend {that a} famous person could need to spend the whole lot of his profession in San Antonio and by no means depart town,” Clack wrote.
2. …nationwide voices had been satisfied he’d ditch SA for some place like Orlando. Thirty 5 years and 5 championships later they usually nonetheless can’t comprehend {that a} famous person could need to spent the whole lot of his profession in San Antonio and by no means depart town.#YallNotGettingHim
— cary clack (@caryclack) March 7, 2024
“Even by famous huge market shill Ramona Shelburne’s requirements, that is pathetic,” X person @josh_eich chimed in. “60 video games into Wemby’s rookie season and we’re attempting to begin the ‘ought to he request a commerce within the subsequent 2 seasons’ discourse.”
Even by famous huge market shill Ramona Shelburne’s requirements that is pathetic. 60 video games into Wemby’s rookie season and we’re attempting to begin the “ought to he request a commerce within the subsequent 2 seasons” discourse? https://t.co/hKYt9mS8hu
— Josh (@josh__eich) March 5, 2024
Maybe probably the most level-headed response got here from Specific-Information sports activities author Tom Petrini.
“They’re principally saying that Wembanyama’s expertise means the Spurs ought to speed up the timeline and purchase expertise, which is honest,” Petrini tweeted. “Much less honest to suggest that Wemby himself is impatient, or that San Antonio is not gonna get any items as a result of they did not commerce for Dame instantly.”
They’re principally saying that Wembanyama’s expertise means the Spurs ought to speed up the timeline and purchase expertise, which is honest.
Much less honest to suggest that Wemby himself is impatient, or that San Antonio isn’t gonna get any items as a result of they didn’t commerce for Dame instantly. https://t.co/Hs32tkhhBK
— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) March 5, 2024
Petrini is referring to the low season commerce of Damien Lillard. The eight-time NBA All-Star expressed curiosity in coming to San Antonio earlier than being traded from Portland to the Milwaukee Bucks.
In fact, it would not be a San Antonio sports activities controversy with out Alamo Sportscast host Mike Jimenez weighing in.
Throughout Tuesday’s episode of the podcast, Jimenez stated he would not belief what Wembanyama tells the media, including that the rookie’s latest physique language suggests he is sad with the Spurs.
“I’m saying that I do not belief any athlete on what they are saying except they’re being blunt like Dejounte Murray was, blunt like Draymond Inexperienced — they I can belief,” Jimenez stated throughout a dialogue with fellow sports activities commentator Carolina Teague. “Anybody else, it would not matter. If it is Keldon, Devin Vassell, Victor Wembanyama, I do not imagine something that they are saying to the media.”
A heated debate between @MJAcquiredTaste and I as we speak on the ACSC.
Mike says he doesn’t belief Victor Wembanyama when Wemby says he’s comfortable to be in San Antonio and he trusts the Spurs course of.
I imagine Wemby, right here’s why…#PorVida @twoshotspodcast pic.twitter.com/oEWruTRlqP
— Carolina Teague – The Mic Slayer (@CTtheMicSlayer) March 5, 2024
Debate about whether or not Wembanyama is comfortable within the Alamo Metropolis is not prone to fizzle out any time quickly, particularly because the workforce limps to the top of a dropping season.
Earlier this season, Wembanyama checked himself right into a sport with out looking for the approval of Coach Gregg Popovich, and the rookie has appeared pissed off on the court docket at instances.
Late final month, following the Spurs’ 105-114 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Wembanyana advised reporters that fellow Frenchman Rudy Gobert has managed to search out a lot success in Minneapolis as a result of “he is not right here by himself” and is as a substitute surrounded by gifted gamers.
Earlier than Wembanyama was even drafted by the Spurs, he indicated he is keen be a champion. The French phenom advised ESPN’s Brian Windhorst he is “attempting to win a hoop ASAP.”