Let us begin with this: He brought a book to the All-Star Game.
As if the NBA needed any more proof that San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama is unique, the league’s locker-room footage from Sunday provided yet another example. Wembanyama was settling in before the games, and Denver’s Nikola Jokic was perplexed by what the Spurs star brought with him.
“You really brought a book?” Jokic asked.
“I read before every game,” Wembanyama explained.
Wembanyama remained true to himself throughout All-Star weekend. He had himself and Spurs teammate Chris Paul removed from the skills competition at All-Star Saturday night after discovering what he believed was a loophole in the rules that may boost his chances of winning. He brought the book on Sunday. He was extremely upset when his team lost the All-Star tournament final.
Wembanyama is the Spurs’ face, and San Antonio is well aware of this. The rest of the league has probably realized that he is one of the league’s faces, as well as the game’s global face, and is well on his way to super-duper-superstardom, if he isn’t already there.
When Wembanyama, a 7-foot-3 French centre who turned 21 last month, first entered the league, LeBron James gave him nothing but praise. James showers even more adulation on Wemby now.
“I saw one quote in which he states that no one should call him after 9 p.m. because he’s either reading or sleeping. That strikes me as extremely cool. “I think that’s really cool,” the Los Angeles Lakers player stated. “That reflects his mental and intellectual state, and I believe he has contributed significantly to the Spurs franchise.” But he will be a terrific asset to our league for many years to come.”
Wembanyama was the undisputed rookie of the year last season, and BetMGM Sportsbook has him as the favourite for defensive player of the year this season. He almost probably will make the All-NBA team. He will most likely receive MVP votes.
All for excellent reasons.
His scoring average is rising. Rebounds per game are increased. Shooting percentages have increased. He’s already made 403 3-pointers and blocked 176 shots this season; no NBA player has ever finished a season with those marks, and Wemby done so by the All-Star break. He’s averaging 24.3 points, 11 rebounds, 3.8 blocks, and 3.7 assists a game; Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the only other player to do it in a single season in 1975-76.
Stephen Curry, of the Golden State Warriors, was asked what he admires about Wembanyama.
“Everything he does,” Curry explained. “Everything.”
The Spurs have been through a lot this season.
Gregg Popovich, the franchise’s grandfather and the best leader Wembanyama has ever known, suffered a stroke in November and coached only five games before being replaced by assistant Mitch Johnson, who has done an amazing job. The Spurs’ travel has been brutal, even by San Antonio standards: they went to New York for a few days over Christmas, spent a week in France for the NBA Paris Games, were in Los Angeles when wildfires ravaged the city, and are now dealing with the annual rodeo road trip, which will keep them away for much of February.
Paul believes the team has had opportunities, noting that 10 of San Antonio’s 29 losses have been by five points or less.
“I think we can really put something together after the break,” Paul was saying.
With Wembanyama, anything is possible, and the Spurs are most definitely in the play-in tournament mix. San Antonio, who acquired De’Aaron Fox around the trade deadline, is 3 1/2 games away of the final play-in berth with 30 games remaining. It is not out of grasp.
“Gaining a bit of confidence because we have such changes in the season,” Wembanyama remarked when asked what the Spurs needed to accomplish for the stretch run. “I also believe that defence is essential. Returning to the status as one of the greatest defences is critical.”
Let it be another illustration of how he differs. At the All-Star Game, he discussed defence. It is who he is. This is how he approaches the game. He plays the right way. He studies. He takes some rest and does his homework. His fellow All-Stars appear to be taking notice.
“I think it’s great for a person like him to be so competitive, focused, and driven in all aspects of his game, no matter where he is,” New York All-Star guard Jalen Brunson stated. “Whether it’s preseason or All-Star, he’ll have the same approach. That is what we have seen. And obviously, what he performs on the court is odd for someone his height. He’s insane, and I believe I like his hard ethic and preparation the most.