SAN ANTONIO – It’s not often a large group of people agree on one thing, let alone all 30 NBA general managers.
Just as Victor Wembanyama garnered all 99 first-place votes to win Rookie of the Year, the latest NBA.com GM survey revealed that most general managers would choose to build their franchise around Wemby more than any other player in the league.
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Being the envy of most NBA front offices must feel good for Spurs general manager Brian Wright. So far, the fifth-year general manager has displayed patience and efficiency when making moves to build around Wembanyama since drafting the French phenom No. 1 overall in 2023.
Most notably, Wright has built up San Antonio’s stock for future drafts. Based on early impressions in the NBA’s summer league and preseason, Wright seems to have hit the jackpot with his second lottery pick in two years when he drafted workhorse and playmaker Stephon Castle out of Connecticut.
As Wright waits for those decisions to pay off in the coming years, the general manager was active this summer, signing on future Hall of Fame point guard Chris Paul and NBA champion Harrison Barnes to enhance the team’s young core.
However, it wasn’t only Wright’s efforts that brought veterans to the Alamo City. Of course, Paul and Barnes were excited about the opportunity to play for a legendary coach like Gregg Popovich.
Most importantly, the two veterans wanted the chance to play alongside a game-breaking talent like Wembanyama.
Wembanyama’s talent isn’t limited to his incredible stature and diverse playing style. The 20-year-old’s psyche is also impressive.
The latest example of Wembanyama’s mature mentality came in a segment with Sports Illustrated called “10 Burning Questions.”
The Spurs star is featured on the cover of the magazine’s basketball preview. He answered questions ranging from Star Wars to playing with CP3.
Wembanyama also revealed what surprised him most about the NBA during his rookie year. Wemby’s answer quickly made its rounds on social media.
“I think both in a good and bad way, it’s how truly the best in the game are,” said Wembanyama. “How, in a good way, some of them are really impressive and inspiring in the way they approach the game every night. But others that I used to like and now I’m just like, ‘Nah.’ I’m not sure that they deserve, you know, they don’t seem like they put (in) as much work as I thought.”
Wembanyama is methodical in every answer he gives to journalists. Last year’s NBA Rookie of the Year seems to approach many things in the same way — like whether or not a player(s) he once idolized still deserves his appreciation.
“Some of the guys it was kind of, some of the guys I’ve been watching growing up, I’m not disappointed, but I’m like, ‘That’s it?’ But some of them, I’m talking like KD (Kevin Durant), of course, you know, I got to know Rudy Gobert more with the national team. I know their work ethic,” Wembanyama told SI. “I know how they view the game, and it’s really inspiring and I want to do the same. I want to do the same.”
A well-known competitor like Wembanyama’s new teammate Paul has to appreciate his perspective and desire to be a great NBA player.
General managers also overwhelmingly agreed that Wembanyama is the best defensive player and interior defender in the league with a 40% consensus in the survey.
Last year, 90% of the general managers believed Wemby would be the best player of his rookie class within the next five years.
It appears San Antonio’s prized gem is right on track.
