SAN ANTONIO — As Victor Wembanyama has settled into San Antonio within the weeks since being drafted No. 1 general within the 2023 NBA draft, he has lastly had an opportunity to get on the basketball court docket previously two days.
The san antonio spurs started summer time league practices Thursday, permitting Wembanyama to make his presence felt on the court docket.
“It has been nice,” Wembanyama mentioned on Friday afternoon. “Sadly, I had rather a lot off the court docket too. However I am glad that is over now and I can deal with basketball per se.”
With two practices down, the Spurs now journey to Sacramento for the California Basic summer time league, however Wembanyama will not be going. He’ll, nonetheless, take part within the Las Vegas summer time league beginning July 7 when the Spurs open up towards the Charlotte Hornets.
“I will play at the very least one or two video games,” Wembanyama mentioned about his expectations for summer time league. “I do not know the way it works but. What number of minutes I will play. However I do know I will have a giant function and it should be intense. I am unable to wait to put on that Spurs jersey for the primary time.”
Wembanyama mentioned he would have appreciated to performed in Sacramento, particularly as a result of the crew is ready to play the Los Angeles Lakershowever he understands there are sacrifices he has to make early on since he is coming off of taking part in a full season with Metropolitans 92 within the French League.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has been across the facility the previous couple days, so Wembanyama has gotten his first style of what his future head coach will probably be like. However he hasn’t been what Wembanyama anticipated.
“I assumed I’d expertise the yelling a bit earlier,” Wembanyama mentioned, “however I have never but. I am prepared.”
Spurs assistant Matt Nielsen is taking on for summer time league, so Wembanyama might not get the complete Popovich expertise till coaching camp begins. However one factor Wembanyama is engaged on is making ready himself for a full season of labor.
“I really feel like to have the ability to play via an 82-game season, I obtained to undergo a number of conditioning and degree up on the power degree,” Wembanyama mentioned.
A part of being prepared for that 82-game season got here all the way down to him declining to play for France within the upcoming FIBA World Cup after what amounted to taking part in 62 video games for Mets 92. The World Cup kicks off in late August and goes on till Sept. 10.
“Going greater than two years with out a relaxation is just too large of a danger,” Wembanyama mentioned. “It is actually large occasions developing just like the Olympics that I do not need to miss. So to be accessible for the nationwide crew for the subsequent, I do not know what number of different years, I felt like I wanted to overlook this one.
“It was actually onerous [to make that decision]. For me, my profession goes to be as a lot with the franchise as will probably be with the nationwide crew. There are titles to win with each. Lacking the nationwide crew is rather like lacking the season with the Spurs. It is sort of loopy.”
For now, Wembanyama can deal with the summer time league function he could have whereas attending to spend time together with his new teammates.
“I had a heat welcome with the blokes,” Wembanyama mentioned. “I simply can’t wait. I used to be advised beforehand that there was dynamic with the crew on and off the court docket. I began to really feel it already. It simply makes me extra sure that this can be a good setting.”
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Printed : 2023-06-30 20:38:59
