After the excitement and discovery during the last training camp, the Spurs are displaying their ambitions in a big way in light of Victor Wembanyama's Year II in the NBA. “The playoffs and only the playoffs”predicted Devin Vassel during media day. The fullback is one of the Spurs' first offensive weapons but he was forced to wait until the first days of the regular season due to a foot injury.
Penultimate in the West last year (22 wins – 60 losses), the Texan franchise now wants to move up a gear. Last year, the staff notably experimented with Victor Wembanyama at position 4 and Jeremy Sochan at the lead before the team found better fuel from the start of 2024, in the wake of a Wemby in constant progress. Promises at the end of the 2023/24 season must now be confirmed.
Do not wait “50 to 60 matches”
“We want to start the year strong,” once again insisted Victor Wembanyama, who said he was at “15% of [ses] abilities” at the end of last season, after training on Wednesday, at the Victory Capital Performance Center. “We don’t want to wait 50-60 games to start (playing seriously). It starts now, from preseason”.
With a hard core of young players still present in the Alamo City – only veterans Chris Paul (39) and Harrison Barnes (32) have signed in San Antonio – Gregg Popovich and his men should logically find their bearings more quickly.
“Evolve to a certain standard” from the start of the season
“(Our game at the start of training camp) is more structured (than last year), we have adopted certain habits together”relates Wemby, recent silver medalist at the last Olympics, his black hood on his head, facing a dozen journalists. “Last year, I discovered the NBA, I had no idea what it was really like (from the inside). Now I can help my teammates (to progress) and vice versa. » Before promising: “The coach gave me a year to understand my game a little better; now, (the team) must evolve to a certain standard”.
Before starting the season in Dallas, on October 24, the Spurs will meet Chet Holmgren and the Thunder at Frost Bank Centerfrom Monday evening, for a first preparation match.
From our correspondent in San Antonio (United States).
