Latest news with #Wembanyama
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Victor Wembanyama Reacts to San Antonio Spurs Being Named NBA's Most Positive Team
Victor Wembanyama Reacts to San Antonio Spurs Being Named NBA's Most Positive Team originally appeared on Athlon Sports. In the modern NBA, with the advent of social media, it's easier than ever for fans and "armchair GMs" to spout their opinions, criticisms, and concerns about their favorite teams. The San Antonio Spurs, of course, are not exempt from that, although their track record of success and elite young core centered on Victor Wembanyama shoud be more than enough to give fans hope. Advertisement As teams like the Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings, New Orleans Pelicans, and others continually fall short of expectations, and other teams, like the Dallas Mavericks, flal victim to their own mismanagement, the Spurs, for the most part, have been true to what they set out to do. After Tim Duncan retired and Kawhi Leonard was traded away, it stood to reason that the small-market Spurs would undergo a years-long rebuild, although in the 2023 NBA Draft, their tanking paid off, as they drafted Wembanyama. A year later, they landed Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle, and this season, they landed the second overall pick in the NBA Draft Lottery. Fans still find things to complain about, although the Spurs are in a positive place, and the fan base generally reflects that. According to a recent poll, the Spurs have the single most positive fanbase in the NBA. Advertisement Wembanyama took notice of that. Wembanyama is already one of the very best players in the NBA and is only 21 years old, so of course, fans have reason to be optimistic. On top of that, even while fans are divided on some issues, everyone has full faith in Wemby. It's impossible to walk around San Antonio without seeing a Wembanyama mural, shirt, jersey, or poster, and while the Spurs still have a ways to go before they are true contenders, the direction, unlike a lot of other franchises, is very clear. Check out the Inside the Spurs home page for more news, analysis, and must-read articles. Related: Michael Wilbon Offers Which San Antonio Spurs' Trade Asset is Untouchable Related: LeBron James Makes Tom Brady, Victor Wembanyama Announcement This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
16 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Nets' D'Angelo Russell is really high on Spurs' Victor Wembanyama
Nets' D'Angelo Russell is really high on Spurs' Victor Wembanyama The Brooklyn Nets are still early in their offseason and many of the players are enjoying their summers before they have to come back to Brooklyn to try to improve on the 26-56 record from this season. D'Angelo Russell has been taking full advantage of his time off by touring China as part of his signature shoe promotion, but he also took the time to talk about an upcoming great NBA player. "Victor Wembanyama... He's slick. I'm telling y'all now, I'm putting this on air. Remember, I gave him his flowers last time," Russell said of San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama during the latest episode of his "The Backyard Podcast" show. Russell's podcast is not only for him to talk about what's on his mind, but also acts as a vlog of sorts that shows what he is doing behind the scenes. "This is a big statement. If they (the NBA) ever change the logo, it might be him," Russell continued while speaking about Wembanyama. "He's that special... I'm just really high on Victor Wembanyama. I think he's really special." Wembanyama, 21, is considered one of the players in the "up-and-coming" tiers usually attributed to young players that have the appearance of someone destined for stardom and he hasn't disappointed thus far. Wembanyama, the first overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, is not only boasting career averages of 22.5 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 3.7 blocks, and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 46.9% from the field and 33.9% from three-point land, but he has always made waves in the league in terms of his accomplishments. Wembanyama, listed at 7-foot-3 and 235 pounds, was the Rookie of the Year for the 2023-24 season while being named to the All-Defensive First Team, is a one-time All-Star, and has led the NBA in blocks per game the past two seasons. Russell is a free-agent this summer and while he has spoken about wanting to come back to Brooklyn, there could be a chance that he signs with the Spurs considering his feelings about Wembanyama's future.
New York Times
a day ago
- Business
- New York Times
How Indiana Pacers went from also-rans in Paris to the NBA Finals: ‘We don't quit'
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Pacers went to Paris this season. The French sports media are a reverent bunch, so it would be wrong to say that the Pacers were treated like the Washington Generals, Reggie Strickland (I admit I had to look him up, but he lost 276 out of 363 career boxing matches, so you can see where this is headed) or Prairie View A&M. Advertisement But whether it was in Accor Arena while the games were going on, or just about anywhere else in the French capital that week in January, the Pacers were definitely a sidebar to the main act — the San Antonio Spurs and Victor Wembanyama. Of course this makes sense to a degree, as Wemby is a Parisian and this was his triumphant homecoming with his NBA team, so his presence was always going to drive the news. But also, the Pacers, at the time, were still kinda, sorta, just, lacking. They had started to win a few games here and there and were a couple above .500 when landing at De Gaulle, and yes, it was Tyrese Haliburton's first trip to the city since winning a gold medal at the Paris Olympics with USA Basketball the previous summer, but Indiana simply was not at a point where it was inspiring much excitement or confidence among fans and onlookers. Naturally, the Spurs finished 34 games out of first and Wembanyama missed the last two months with a blood clot, and the Pacers are, of course, headed to the NBA Finals. 'This isn't a surprise to any of us because of what we wanted to do,' Haliburton said. To anyone who has watched the Pacers play LATELY, no, their finals berth is not a surprise. They play a relentless, fast-paced, full-court style where they pressure the ball in the backcourt and, on offense, throw it ahead as soon as possible. They have a competent, reliable bench, two stars in Haliburton and Pascal Siakam, and role players who seem to have been carved out of a marble slab by Michelangelo to fit perfectly around Haliburton and Siakam. This is how they dumped the Milwaukee Bucks (with Giannis Antetokounmpo) and the No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers, both in five games, then beat the New York Knicks in a more competitive six-game series. But to the more casual follower — the kind who might make a face that the NBA Finals features teams from Oklahoma City ('omg, cow pasture USA,' a TikTok-er might say) and Indianapolis ('Is Peyton Manning still there,' a … well, I'm out of jokes here, so something someone ill-informed might say), or to the kind who spent the whole season reading and hearing that the East was owned by Cleveland and Boston and no one else is in the discussion — yes, the Pacers are a surprise. Advertisement Did you know that Indiana started the season with a 10-15 record? Or that Haliburton opened the season in the worst slump of his career, posting five games of fewer than 10 points when he made less than 26 percent of his shots from opening night through Dec. 1? That's how a player can not make the All-Star team but wind up on one of three All-NBA teams in the same season. A team five games under .500 through 25 games, with its best player scuffling like that, typically doesn't make an NBA Finals. 'Me personally, I had my struggles, many guys had their struggles,' Haliburton said after Saturday's closeout of the Knicks. 'I think as a group, we just leaned on each other. And that's the most special part about this group. These guys in the locker room are gonna be my brothers for life. And what they've done for me, I can't even really put into words because you know where I was earlier in the year was really, really tough for me.' While Haliburton was going through it, the Pacers missed Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith and bench player Ben Sheppard for large swaths early in the season. As coach Rick Carlisle pointed out, the Pacers were giving key minutes to players on two-way contracts, youngsters who needed more seasoning in the G League, but the Pacers had no other options. Indiana was also in the midst of overhauling its defense, learning how to execute simpler yet more aggressive schemes with a personnel better suited to defend than the team the Pacers put on the floor in 2023-24 — a team that, yes, made the Eastern Conference finals despite its defensive struggles. As the Pacers got healthy, the defensive work began to catch on. They finished 14th in the league on defense, which, for a team with a national reputation for playing no defense at all, was a marked improvement. That's kind of how they went 40-15 to close the regular season. Advertisement 'Getting to the NBA Finals is an accomplishment,' Carlisle said. 'But if you start looking at it (the finals) that way, you'll go into it with the wrong mindset. Our defense is something we've been working on steadfastly for over a year and a half. … The guys co-signed on the importance of defense, and everybody has participated in the growth.' The Pacers have been compared favorably to a college team because of the full-court pressure they apply for virtually the entire game. Indiana knows that Oklahoma City plays a similar style, and, at least during the regular season, was much better at it — the Thunder's 68 wins stand as one of the great NBA regular seasons. The depth the Pacers rely on has been challenged, as Nesmith, Tony Bradley and Jarace Walker suffered leg injuries during the series. While Nesmith never missed a game and Bradley should be ready for the finals, Walker left the arena after Saturday night's conference finals clincher on crutches. All of which is to say, Indiana is well aware of the challenge that the Thunder will present. The league MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, is on that side, as is fellow All-Star Jalen Williams. Oklahoma City has two additional strong wings besides Williams in Lu Dort and Alex Caruso, and two capable, versatile bigs in Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein. 'I think it's a new blueprint for the league,' said Myles Turner, the longest-tenured Pacer. 'I think the years of the super teams and stacking, it's just not as effective as it once was, you know what I mean? Since I've been in the league, the NBA has been very trendy; it just shifts. But the new trend now is just kind of what we're doing. OKC does the same thing — young guys get out and run, defend and use the power of friendship.' For hours after the Pacers dismissed the Knicks in Game 6, the streets of downtown Indianapolis sounded like race day at the Motor Speedway. Engines revving on the streets, thousands of people drinking beers on the sidewalks, shouting to each other and at cars they believed were carrying Pacer players. A small group stationed itself outside the Pacers parking lot and shouted 'SUV!' as a black SUV with tinted windows pulled out into the night. Was it Siakam, the actual Eastern Conference finals MVP, or was it Haliburton? Who can say? It was a celebration for a fan base that had not seen its basketball team get this far in 25 years. The players and coaches? They were happy, yes, but already thinking of what lies ahead. Advertisement The Thunder play how they play, except, at least on paper, an NBA analyst would say Oklahoma City has better players. Of course, that's what we might have said back in January, looking at a Global Games matchup between the Spurs and Pacers when no one was counting on the Pacers for much of anything. 'I just love the fact that everyone just stayed to the grind and we just kept working and you're trusting the process,' Siakam said. 'I think it just took us slowly to another level and the fact that we connected all together, like, that's what makes it special. 'We don't quit.'
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Spurs Urged to Avoid Worst-Case Scenario With Victor Wembanyama
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The San Antonio Spurs are coming off a season in which they failed to meet expectations a bit. More NBA news: Knicks Staff Reportedly Losing Patience With Karl-Anthony Towns The Spurs were ravaged by injuries, including their superstar center, Victor Wembanyama. Wembanyama was spectacular all season long, that is, until after the All-Star break when he was diagnosed with a blood clot in his right shoulder. The deep vein thrombosis was diagnosed after the All-Star break and required surgery. While the injury was serious, the expectation is that the Frenchman will make a full recovery and be ready by the start of the 2025-26 season. While that's the good news, the bad news is that the Spurs have a lot to do in order to take the next step and become contenders, especially in the loaded Western Conference. The Spurs have a long way to go, but at least they have a superstar in their corner. As for the rest of their roster, they require significant retooling, including adding shooting around Wembanyama and star guard De'Aaron Fox. Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs celebrates after a 131-121 victory against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on February 10, 2025 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and... Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs celebrates after a 131-121 victory against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on February 10, 2025 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. More Photo byIn a recent column by Dan Favale of Bleacher Report, he urged the Spurs to avoid this nightmare scenario with Wembanyama. "You don't want to be in a situation where Wemby has to be living from beyond the arc. You want to create an environment that opens up more paint touches for him while also leveraging his spacing. San Antonio currently tilts too much toward the former. It should be using the non-taxpayer mid-level ($14.1 million) and the trade market to change that," wrote Favale. Standing at 7-foot-4, Wembanyama brings undeniable size and presence, but his impact away from the ball has room to grow. According to BBall-Index, he ranked in just the 41st percentile in both off-ball gravity and catch-and-shoot three-point accuracy — marks that leave something to be desired. That's especially concerning if the Spurs end up losing Chris Paul and his reliable 37.7 percent shooting from deep to a larger role elsewhere. Surrounding Wembanyama with dependable shooters is essential if the Spurs hope to maximize his impact. Proper spacing not only opens up the floor but also creates cleaner opportunities for the "Alien" to operate near the basket — where he remains most dominant. While Wembanyama can score from all over, his efficiency skyrockets around the rim. He's already showcased his star-level talent; now, heading into his third season, the focus shifts to elevating his game to an even higher tier. More NBA news: Lakers Reportedly Set on Bronny James Being Part of Rotation For more San Antonio Spurs and general NBA news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
USA Today
21-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Potential first-round pick Maxime Raynaud worked out with Spurs' Victor Wembanyama
Stanford forward and potential first-round pick Maxime Raynaud recently hit the gym with San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama in preparation for the 2025 NBA draft. Raynaud was named to the All-ACC first team after averaging 20.2 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.4 blocks on 34.7% shooting from 3-point range as a senior this past season. He ranked 11th in the country in points (707) and sixth in rebounds (371). The 7-footer was pictured by his agency working on various elements of his game alongside fellow Frenchman Wembanyama and a group of other players. Raynaud is close friends with Wembanyama and even played with him in the 2019 FIBA U16 EuroBasket with France. Raynaud was the only player in the country to average at least 20 points and 10 rebounds per game. He is the first Power 4 conference player to average those numbers, while connecting on at least 50 3-pointers in a season since Kevin Durant in 2006-07. The 22-year-old established himself as one of the top international players in the draft this year because of his blend of size, athleticism, skill and versatility. He flourishes in the paint with his footwork and ability to finish with either hand, while also spreading the floor at a high rate. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle Raynaud emerged as one of the top performers at the combine, recording 20 points and nine rebounds in one scrimmage game. He helped his draft stock with the display and will look to keep that momentum going throughout the rest of the predraft process. The draft will occur June 25-26 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
