Spurs

Spurs’ Gregg Popovich on Victor Wembanyama Debut: ‘I Thought It Was Fine’

October 9, 2023

Most people who care about the NBA were watching — or at least checking out the box score. Or they will today.

After all, it’s only the preseason.

But No. 1 picks as hyped as Spurs center Victor Wembanyama don’t come along very often. Try maybe 2003, when an individual named LeBron James was drafted. He lived up to the accolades (and then some).

Will Wembanyama? Only lots of time will tell. But for starters, this wasn’t bad — as Wembanyama tallied 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting to go with five rebounds and a couple steals in the Spurs’ 122-121 road loss to the Thunder. It marked the preseason debut for both Wembanyama and 2022 No. 2 overall pick Chet Holmgren of OKC.

So, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, what did you think?

“I thought it was fine,” Popovich said of Wembanyama’s first preseason appearance, via Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News. “He just went out and played. No big game plan for him or anything like that. He just played basketball, which he likes to do and he’s good at it.”

Along with shooting 60 percent from the field, Wembanyama threw a nifty pass off the fast-break to guard Blake Wesley, who blew the assist at the rim.

“I had no idea he was going to throw that,” Wesley said. “I’ll be ready for it next time.”

No worries, Blake. It didn’t put a dent in how Wembanyama felt about things.

“In terms of the game, it’s all I expected,” he told reporters.

All I expected? Just fine? A strong start to close-to-the-real-thing? Popovich, Wembanyama and San Antonio basketball fans everywhere will take it.