In the calm of the visitors’ locker room, Victor Wembanyama, towering at 7-feet-4, sat quietly, engrossed in a game of chess on his cellphone. Despite his imposing presence and stellar performance, the Frenchman felt fatigued after a brief two-day break during his first NBA All-Star hiatus, following yet another defeat for the San Antonio Spurs.

As for playoffs? Not for the top pick in the 2023 NBA draft. Wembanyama’s former team, Metropolitans 92, had been competing in the French Pro A Finals for the past two seasons, leaving no room for postseason aspirations.

“It’s not supposed to be easy. We also love the struggle and the efforts we need to make. So, yeah, it’s part of the game,” Wembanyama conceded after losing to the Kings 127-122 on Feb. 22.

Amidst the Spurs’ string of losses, it’s easy to overlook Wembanyama’s outstanding rookie campaign, which merits serious consideration for All-NBA and Defensive Player of the Year honors.

In just 28.6 minutes per game, Wembanyama boasts impressive averages of 20.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 3.3 blocks, 1.3 steals, and 1.6 made 3-pointers. Standing tall at 7-foot-4 and 210 pounds, he leads the league in blocks, ranks 13th in rebounds, and tops all centers in steals. Notably, his points per minute ratio (0.725) is the highest by a rookie since the legendary Michael Jordan (0.736), as per ESPN Stats & Information.

With 23 games remaining in the season, Wembanyama also stands among the elite rookies, boasting the fifth-most games with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 blocks since the 1973-74 season.
“He is getting better and better and continuing to build and build on both ends of the court,” Spurs forward Keldon Johnson told Andscape. “Ultimately, it makes it better for everyone else when he’s playing the way he’s playing. He’s upped it up a notch for all of us.”
According to Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, the remarkable performance of his star rookie has surpassed expectations and draws comparisons to Spurs icon and Hall of Famer David Robinson. Standing at 7-1, Robinson boasted impressive averages of 24.3 points, 12 rebounds, 3.9 blocks, and 1.7 steals during the 1989-90 season, securing the 1990 NBA Rookie of the Year award.

According to Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, the remarkable performance of his star rookie has surpassed expectations and draws comparisons to Spurs icon and Hall of Famer David Robinson. Standing at 7-1, Robinson boasted impressive averages of 24.3 points, 12 rebounds, 3.9 blocks, and 1.7 steals during the 1989-90 season, securing the 1990 NBA Rookie of the Year award.
“It’s more than I expected as far as the stats are concerned,” Popovich said. “I didn’t know he was going to lead the league in shot blocking. It’s kind of like the David Robinson thing. We’d finish a game and start taking David for granted so much. We’d say, ‘Damn, David, did he rebound tonight? What did he score tonight?’ I’m thinking he got 12, 15 points. And you look at the stats and was 24 points and 11 rebounds and three blocks. And you didn’t realize it while the game was going on because you expect it from him.”

Despite Wembanyama’s standout performance as a rookie, Popovich emphasized that there’s still plenty of room for growth this season. Popovich pointed out that Wembanyama’s primary focus has been on tightening his game, particularly in deciphering defensive schemes aimed at him. With an average of 3.5 turnovers, Popovich stressed the need for improvement in this aspect. Moreover, the Spurs coaching staff is actively aiding Wembanyama in adapting to situations where he encounters crowded defenses, faces double-teams, and navigates aggressive defenders while utilizing his naturally high dribble.

“So, the whole thing has been an education in the sense that he’s learning the league,” Popovich said. “He’s understanding the ability of these players — the physicality, the speed of the players — so that he tightens his game up and makes it a little bit more solid in certain situations. If he’s getting doubled on the post or if he’s going to be driving into the paint and everybody’s shifted and crowded and all that, he’s got to get rid of it at the right time.

“And when you’re as talented as he is, there’s a lot of things he can do. But the differentiating factor for him is going to be, and fortunate for us, he can really pass the basketball. He sees things now. Sometimes it’s a sloppy pass or it was a pass that maybe he had a little too much muster around it. He didn’t realize who the receiver was, that sort of thing. So, all the basics — jump-stopping, pivoting rocker steps.”

During the flight from San Antonio to Sacramento on February 21, Popovich and Wembanyama watched video footage featuring NBA legends like Jordan, Duncan, Bryant, Abdul-Jabbar, McHale, and Olajuwon.

“Not to make him them, but [we wanted him] to see really solid footwork and movement by fundamentally sound players. We’re trying to get that into him,” Popovich said.

During Rising Stars practice on Feb. 16, Wembanyama expressed his eagerness to learn, stating, “I’m just a student of this league. I don’t really know how everything works.” Reflecting on the film session with Popovich, he added, “What is hard is recognizing what situations we can use from them. It looks easy, but it’s actually the hard part of being a professional.”

According to Johnson, Wembanyama has impressed not only on the court but also off it, showcasing discipline, a balanced diet, and unwavering focus.

Despite being only 20 years old, Wembanyama demonstrates a level of maturity beyond his years. He disclosed during NBA All-Star Weekend that he puts his phone into sleep mode after 9 p.m. on off days to ensure he gets enough rest. He appears to view social media primarily as a promotional platform, as evidenced by his Instagram page, which boasts 4 million followers and features ads for his partnerships with Louis Vuitton, Nike, and Topps Cards, along with snapshots of him alongside LeBron James and Spurs images. His preferred leisure activity is believed to be playing chess on his cellphone.

“There is no pressure to him,” Johnson said. “He’s built for the moment. He’s built for everything that comes with it. He’s a real professional and this is his first year. To see how strict he is, being a professional, locking in with everything he does, sleep, diet … he doesn’t surprise me with the way he flourishes with everything he does. He prepares to be successful.

“His phone is off at 9, 9:30 [p.m.]. He reads books every day. He is always talking to the nutritionist every day making sure he is putting the right things in his body. All the things you hear, that’s real stuff. He really locks into those things.”

The Spurs boast a promising young core featuring talents like Wembanyama, Johnson, Devin Vassell, Jeremy Sochan, and Tre Jones. However, to contend in the competitive Western Conference next season, veteran support is essential, particularly in the guard position where an NBA All-Star-caliber player could provide significant aid.

In the upcoming 2024 draft, the Spurs hold their first-round pick and may also acquire one from the Toronto Raptors if it falls outside the top 7. With nearly $36 million in cap space available, as noted by Bobby Marks, an NBA front office insider for ESPN, San Antonio could be an attractive destination for free agents, especially those enticed by the opportunity to play alongside Wembanyama.

Despite his youth, Wembanyama displays a remarkable sense of urgency and sets high expectations for himself. Remarkably, at the age of 12 in 2016, he expressed aspirations of representing France in the Olympics, a dream he will fulfill during the 2024 Paris Games.

Reflecting on his journey, Wembanyama was asked last week how his 12-year-old self would have reacted if told he would be attending NBA All-Star Weekend.

“My 12-year-old self would have probably said something like, ‘Why not earlier? Why not the year before?’ ” Wembanyama responded.

Wembanyama emphasized that the Spurs’ ambitions extend beyond mere victories—they aspire to return to playoff contention swiftly. Given the franchise’s storied history, which includes five NBA titles since 1999, there’s an inherent expectation for the team to strive for excellence and reclaim its winning legacy, with Wembanyama spearheading the charge.

“I’ve been told never to skip steps my whole life, but that didn’t stop me from running up the stairs,” Wembanyama said. “So, yeah, of course [winning is] something I want to be a part of in the future.”