No matter what they try, it seems like the San Antonio Spurs are failing to find a rhythm this season. They are currently at the bottom of the Western Conference with a 10-36 record. In an attempt to turn things around, Coach Gregg Popovich decided to switch up the dynamics. Just before Christmas on December 23, their young SF Julian Champagnie was incorporated into the starting lineup, replacing Keldon Johnson.

Fitting into his new role, Julian hasn’t disappointed. He has been demonstrating incredible playmaking techniques, the skills to attack closeouts, and a strong assist in defensive awareness. Amidst taking on this new role, Julian vividly remembers a piece of advice Coach Popovich gave him before inserting him into the starting lineup.

Julian was asked to find his own beat

The 22-year-old forward recalls the exact words that Coach Popovich had told him, “Don’t be Kobe.” What Coach Popovich was trying to tell him was that he needn’t worry about bringing in big scoring numbers for the Spurs. The coach did not want to burden the young player with the expectation of being a game-changing hero for the team like Kobe Bryant was for the Lakers, who had a well-defined and remarkable history to uphold. Popovich wanted the entire team to understand that they do not have to pursue such lofty goals.

Keeping this in mind, Coach Pop’s message to the team was, “Sometimes players try to be something that they’re not and usually it doesn’t end up very well. Just play the game, be solid, and let it come to you.” The Spurs have many young talents in the team like Julian and their star player Victor Wembanyama, who has the potential to push the franchise further. But Pop needs them to understand that trying to do what Kobe did right now is not a wise choice. The team is in a rebuilding stage with goals to achieve in the future, which means that they cannot afford to chase huge expectations.

It’s about time the Spurs stop their bleeding

Playing like Kobe right now will not help the team reach newer heights because they have bigger problems at hand. If we zoom out and look at the bigger picture, we see a team that has been struggling terribly to stay afloat. The young team lacked direction and the consistent experimentation only added to their woes. All this left them without a distinct identity. This is a team that has brimming potential for the future but negligible outcomes in the present.

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The first half of the season hasn’t exactly been what anyone expected, but there’s still ample time to turn things around, especially now that Wemby’s minutes restrictions are lifted and players like Julian are getting more minutes. Do you think the Spurs are capable of turning things around in their favor? Or are they a lost cause? Share your thoughts!

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