Looking haggard, Gregg Popovich looked at him, then glanced at the scoreboard with less than two minutes to play. While Jeremy Sochan sent his free throws to bring the Spurs to within 10 points of the Grizzlies, Victor Wembanyama had just spontaneously left his bench, presented himself at the scorer's table and pointed at Blake Wesley to replace him.
Meanwhile, one of the assistants came and said a few words to Pop. Everyone seemed to have been taken aback…
The Spurs giant, whose playing time is still limited due to his recent ankle problems, thus “forced” his return to the floor, because he considered that his team still had a chance of winning.
“ I spoke to the coach and told him: 'Yeah, I've already played 25 minutes. What’s another two minutes?’. Looking back, I understand their point of view, but in the moment, it's difficult and frustrating », delivers the first choice of the last Draft.
Understanding but frustrated
A few seconds after this return to the floor, the interior was served under the circle by Devin Vassell for a big dunk. The Spurs thus came back to three possessions (102-94) with one minute remaining. Not enough to derail Ja Morant's gang after all.
Above all, nothing to convince the Spurs technician. “ I wasn't allowed in, but I did it anyway, and the coach took me out right after “, continues the Frenchman in reference to Gregg Popovich's choice to fire, immediately after this dunk, Blake Wesley to replace him.
Victor Wembanyama left the floor for good with 20 points (8/16), 7 rebounds and 4 blocks in 26 minutes of play, his most playing time since mid-November. “ In a while, we will take other images (from the ankle) and this will determine whether the minutes change or not. It's the same thing every night. I think we “lost” a minute tonight. Twenty-four minutes is the deal », figures Gregg Popovich.
His star player only says one thing: he says he is ready to no longer be limited. “ I agree about the restrictions. Right now, of course, I want to play and I'm frustrated. But I know that the wisest solution is to listen to the staff, even if it is difficult and frustrating », he finishes.
| Victor Wembanyama | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2023-24 | SAN | 28 | 30 | 44.2 | 29.0 | 79.3 | 2.2 | 8.1 | 10.3 | 3.0 | 2.3 | 1.3 | 3.3 | 3.1 | 18.9 |
| Total | 28 | 30 | 44.2 | 29.0 | 79.3 | 2.2 | 8.1 | 10.3 | 3.0 | 2.3 | 1.3 | 3.3 | 3.1 | 18.9 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
