Victor Wembanyama had a hand in more than just the Spurs’ win over the Sacramento Kings. In a strange third-quarter moment, the ball ended up stuck on top of the backboard, and the referee couldn’t get it down himself. That’s when the official looked to the 7-foot-4 San Antonio center for help.
“Hey, Wemby, help me out,” the ref said.
Wembanyama made quick work of it, using a stick to knock the ball loose from the top of the backboard. It was a reminder of just how useful his size can be in the most unexpected spots, even when the job belongs to someone in stripes instead of a jersey.
The bigger takeaway for San Antonio, though, was the way Wembanyama carried himself in the game itself. After the Spurs had dropped consecutive games, they picked up their first win of the season, though head coach Mitch Johnson said afterward he didn’t view that earlier victory as a major achievement. Tuesday’s performance against Sacramento, by contrast, looked more like the kind of complete effort the team has been chasing.
Wembanyama said he could feel the difference building as the game went on.
“I think we felt today what we were supposed to do and what we weren't. And we actually showed progress through the game. So, I think I hope we can stick to the good stuff we did,” Wembanyama said.
The Spurs have already had a season that put them in the spotlight before, with Wembanyama and the young group making a run to the NBA Finals last season before the New York Knicks won the title. This year, San Antonio is back to chasing that same championship dream, and Wembanyama keeps giving the franchise every reason to believe he can take them there.
In Other News...
Spurs Suddenly Have A Tough Decision Behind Wembanyama
The Spurs are still sorting through the early-season edges of their rotation, and the center minutes behind Victor Wembanyama are already drawing attention after two home losses in the first three games. Mitch Johnson singled out rookie Tarris Reed Jr. for the energy and defense he brought against Dallas, a useful sign for a team trying to find steadier footing when Wembanyama rests.
Luke Kornet entered the season looking like part of that backup equation, but Reeds early showing gives San Antonio a different kind of option to consider. If the Spurs want more resistance and activity in those non-Wembanyama stretches, the frontcourt mix may not stay fixed for long, and that is the sort of decision that can shape not just a game, but the rhythm of an entire rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Spurs Suddenly Have A Real Chance To Upgrade Around Wembanyama
Injuries to Anthony Edwards and Jalen Williams have turned the Spurs roster-building conversations into something more immediate, and it has them looking at ways to sharpen the group around Victor Wembanyama. The appeal is obvious: San Antonio needs more defense and more dependable shooting, and the kind of upgrades that once felt like long-shot ideas suddenly feel more plausible when the market shifts.
Two names that surface in those discussions are PJ Washington and Royce ONeale, each offering a different fit for what the Spurs are trying to build. Washington would bring frontcourt versatility, while ONeale would add another wing who can defend and space the floor, but neither idea is simple, and any move would still depend on player availability and approvals before it goes anywhere. [Read more 🡒]
Spurs Have A New Frost Bank Center Feel Players Are Talking About
The Frost Bank Center has a different look these days, and it is the kind of arena tweak players tend to notice right away. San Antonio has installed a new lighting system that puts more emphasis on the court while dimming the seating areas, bringing the building in line with what many other NBA venues already do.
Luke Kornet has already picked up on the change and talked about how it alters the atmosphere inside the building, giving games a sharper focus once the lights go down. Coach Mitch Johnson, meanwhile, has not made much of the adjustment himself, which only adds to the sense that this is one of those subtle arena changes that matters more to the people on the floor than the people running the team. [Read more 🡒]