Victor Wembanyama hasn’t been within the league for lengthy, however he’s already recognized for his candor. If somebody asks a query, he’ll typically reply it very straight. So it shouldn’t be a shock when he gave an enchanting response to a query about whether or not the Spurs must be enthusiastic about making some strikes.
Through Maxime Aubin, a French reporter who has been protecting Wemby from San Antonio for French newspaper LÉquipe:
I requested Victor Wembanyama if the Spurs must be energetic earlier than the commerce deadline. His reply is… fascinating:
« One factor for positive : our roster gained’t keep the identical over the following years. Each roster change just a little bit. I don’t know… I ought to take a look at these issues extra…
— Maxime Aubin (@MaximeAubin1) December 28, 2024
The query was in French and there’s no video on the Spurs’ official channel, so the tone wherein he mentioned it’s unclear, however the phrases are sufficient to make the assertion fascinating.
Wembanyama appears to grasp that this group, as nice because it appears to get alongside, gained’t keep collectively endlessly. Gamers come and go within the NBA and groups attempting to construct contenders round a famous person will make powerful choices. There’s a stage of maturity in being conscious of and accepting that even some guys Wemby has gotten shut with gained’t be there within the upcoming years. Victor isn’t calling for large adjustments however appears to grasp that they may finally occur and is on board with it, which is reassuring.
The second a part of the reply, nevertheless, is the juicier one. Wemby appears conscious of the ability he most likely has already as a franchise-altering star. Usually you’d hear a participant requested about personnel choices say one thing alongside the traces of “That’s what the entrance workplace is for, I’m only a participant” however Wemby didn’t go for the cliche. “I ought to take a look at these issues extra significantly (…), I’ll take a more in-depth take a look at it” indicators that the younger heart, after specializing in his particular person growth up till now, thinks it will be finest to be extra within the roster round him and probably concerned with shaping it.
Now, there are not less than 3 ways to react to this assertion. Some will dismiss it as Wembanyama avoiding a direct reply by saying he has to consider it as deflection. It is likely to be nothing greater than a drained participant getting caught off guard by a query in his native language and saying issues that sound extra bombastic than he anticipated. It’s not a uncommon phenomenon amongst worldwide gamers to be extra cautious with what they are saying to American reporters. Possibly Wemby was attempting to say the suitable factor and his phrases are being overanalyzed.
Others will panic, pondering the younger star will attempt to become involved in personnel choices like many prime gamers have executed earlier than, with blended outcomes at finest. Wemby’s timeline and preferences won’t align with these of the Spurs’ and that might be an issue. Thus far the connection between participant and franchise has been nice, and extra involvement off the ground in choices from Wemby might have an effect on it. He’s going to be in San Antonio for a very long time, however ideally, that point can be as harmonious as doable.
The extra optimistic solution to interpret it’s that Wemby feels comfy sufficient together with his personal progress as a participant that he can now begin confidently sharing with the entrance workplace his opinions on how the workforce might enhance to raised match his expertise. Any franchise would love to listen to strategies on the right way to proceed progressing from a famous person dedicated sufficient to care, and so long as these strategies don’t flip into calls for, there must be no concern. Because the deadline will get nearer, it might be a great factor for Mitch Johnson to listen to what Wemby has to say.
No matter how the reply is interpreted, one factor is obvious. With Wembanyama performing like a famous person, the Silver and Black look extra like a win-now workforce with their shortened rotation. For the reason that franchise has the belongings to make a giant transfer, all eyes might be on San Antonio because the commerce deadline will get nearer. No assertion might be seen as innocuous, and the rumors will abound. Buckle up for a enjoyable, if often disturbing, time.
