Spurs Urged to Avoid Worst-Case Scenario With Victor Wembanyama
2 days ago
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The San Antonio Spurs are coming off a season in which they failed to meet expectations a bit.
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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.
Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images
In 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.
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For more San Antonio Spurs and general NBA news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
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