After selecting Victor Wembanyama with the first overall pick in 2023, the San Antonio Spurs immediately had the brightest future out of any team in the league. Getting a generational prospect like Wemby promised a stellar destiny because he is the next face of the franchise.
The hype was worth it because Wembanyama had one of the NBA’s greatest-ever rookie seasons, averaging 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, and a league-leading 3.6 blocks per game. The French phenomenon showed that he is the superstar San Antonio has been waiting for since Tim Duncan’s retirement and Kawhi Leonard’s abrupt exit.
While most people within the NBA community expect San Antonio to still struggle in the 2024/25 season, prominent podcaster Bill Simmons believes the Spurs are a contender for at least a Play-In Tournament berth.
“They’re also gonna be pretty good this year, weirdly. Chris Paul and someone like Barnes could be in the rotation. Castle will be playing right away and Sochan. They might be like a 40-, 41-, 42-win team just because of how good Wemby is,” Simmons said on The Bill Simmons Podcast.
CP3 could be a game-changer for the Spurs
For most of the 2023/24 season, SA struggled with playmaking. Tre Jones is a decent point guard but not the optimal initiator San Antonio wanted with the team. He could still be a decent backup PG, but head coach Gregg Popovich has found his starting table-setter in veteran Chris Paul .
CP3 signed a one-year deal with San Antonio, and he could be a massive signing for the Spurs because he is arguably the best playmaker of the generation. He might be 39 years old, but Chris does not need elite athleticism to be the right playmaker for SA.
Another factor that people might have overlooked is his mentorship, which could play a significant role for 2024 fourth overall pick Stephon Castle. The upside is enormous for the CP3 signing because his mentorship could go a long way, just like what happened in his one year playing alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in OKC.
Related: Scottie Pippen on how Michael Jordan would have reacted if he left the Bulls: "He would have probably tried to shoot more and score more"
Wemby will continue his ascent to superstardom
After a generational rookie year, Victor is on track to have an even better year in the 2024/25 season. Wembanyama will be more confident with his offensive game as he knows how to beat his matchups. Vic learned to be a more savvy scorer, as he won’t need to keep exerting energy just to beat his defender.
Apart from his offensive game, Wemby’s defense will only keep improving as he has shown flashes of being a switchable defender. The French big man would love to keep protecting the rim with his shot-blocking ability, but his footspeed and length could be problematic for the opponents.
The Spurs have a promising 2024/25 season ahead because of Wemby’s star power. CP3’s veteran leadership and admiration for Wemby will do a lot for the team, which makes people like Simmons excited because they know the squad has the potential to become a surprise in the Western Conference.
Related: Kevin O'Connor predicts a big season for Victor Wembanyama after Spurs signed Chris Paul: "All-Star, All-NBA, DPOY"
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