George Gervin is happy to look at Victor Wembanyama lead the San Antonio Spurs, however he has considerations about one facet of his enchancment.
The San Antonio Spurs have been swept up in NBA commerce rumors this summer time, and have been linked to premier free brokers like Naz Reid and draft prospects like Dylan Harper.
Irrespective of how they conduct themselves this offseason, the plan stays the identical: construct round Victor Wembanyama. The Spurs have had greater than their fair proportion of superstars, though Wembanyama is definitely essentially the most transformative and distinctive participant to ever play in San Antonio.
George Gervin, the Spurs’ first celebrity, heaped reward on Wembanyama, however he has one main concern about his profession.
For 29 seasons, Gregg Popovich manned the sidelines in San Antonio. He gained his first title on the backs of David Robinson and Tim Duncan, and went on to win 4 extra, in addition to win extra video games than any coach in league historical past.
Alongside the best way, he turned neglected gamers Tony Parker, Kawhi Leonard, Manu Ginobili, and Dejounte Murray, amongst others, into All-Stars, and have become synonymous with profitable.
After the Spurs landed the primary total choose in 2023, Popovich signed a five-year extension, though a stroke and additional medical issues ended his teaching profession, with him formally retiring final month.
Popovich will stay with the Spurs as President of Basketball Operations and can proceed to play a large half in Wembanyama’s growth, however the transition away from Pop might be exhausting for each the younger star and the group.
“I’m unhappy that Pop is gone, however I feel Pop left him in good palms, and Pop’s nonetheless going to be round,” mentioned Gervin on Fanduel’s Run It Again, earlier than heaping Wemby with reward.
“He’s a particular particular person,” Gervin mentioned. “I imply, subsequent two years if he stays wholesome, y’all know he might actually be the face [of the league]. He obtained the character, man. He obtained the morals, and he expressed himself very well.”
Whereas the Spurs will definitely miss Popovich on the sidelines and within the locker room, Wembanyama spent the overwhelming majority of his second season below Mitch Johnson, who was promoted to go coach with Popovich’s assist.
Whereas Wembanyama and Popovich appeared to develop a fast bond, Pop is just not the one coach Wembanyama has performed for. Within the NBA, Mitch Johnson coached 77 video games, with Wembanyama enjoying in 41 of them.
Earlier than he joined the Spurs, Wembanyama took Metropolitans 92 to the French League Finals, dropping to Monaco, though he gained season MVP.
Earlier than that, he performed for Tony Parker’s ASVEL Basket below head coach TJ Parker, Tony’s brother, and completed first within the common season, and he performed for Nanterre below coach Pascal Donnadieu.
Within the 2024 Paris Olympics, Wembanyama and head coach Vincent Collet completed second, dropping the gold medal recreation to the USA.
Whereas Popovich is essentially the most adorned coach Wembanyama has ever performed for, he has proven time and time once more that he doesn’t want the all-time wins chief to be calling performs for him. Whereas dropping Pop will definitely be an adjustment, he’s anticipated to be a daily determine at video games and within the follow facility.
