“He’s Not Where Jokic Is”: Gregg Popovich Cautioned Against Centering Big Hopes on Victor Wembanyama

Everyone will be quite eager to watch the San Antonio Spurs‘ offseason moves. The mere presence of a 7’4 French giant, Victor Wembanyama, has made the ‘Lone Star State’ look not so alone anymore. In fact, Wemby had recently revealed on the Ringer podcast that many players, including prospects, have reached out to him expressing their interest in teaming up. A franchise that hasn’t exactly been a free agent hot spot now looks like the prime spot for top talents to offer their services.

It certainly looks good on paper. At least, that’s the angle ex-Wizards star Gilbert Arenas is taking. In the latest episode of Gil’s Arena, ‘Agent Zero’ makes his view clear on the Spurs’ potential moves surrounding their 20-year-old phenom.

Gilbert Arenas gives a sharp reality check to the Spurs regarding Victor Wembanyama

Following an exasperated sigh, he bluntly said, “It’d be a bad move to try to spend money when he is not in form yet.” What did Arenas mean with that statement, though? He quickly followed up with an explanation. Well, more of a comparison that would give the viewers a chance to understand his reasoning.

“He’s not where Jokic is or where Giannis was when he won that championship … he’s not in that form yet to sit here and pay a whole bunch of veterans to help him. He’s still developing,” Gil said. In a way, the former 3x All-Star had a point.

Of course, his arrival into the league was nothing like Jokic or Giannis. The unanimously voted 2024 ROTY lived up to the hype. Wembanyama was hailed as the next “generational talent” and he exceeded the expectations of everyone. The Spurs center finished his rookie season with a stunning stat line of 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.6 blocks, and 3.9 assists in 71 games.

He led all NBA rookies in scoring, rebounds, and blocks per game. Moreover, he became the first rookie in league history to score 1,500 points, block 250 shots, and hit 100 3-point shots in a single season. While all of this and more were impressive and expected of Wemby, it still wasn’t enough for San Antonio to put all their eggs in one basket, so to say.

Although the young big man has remained unperturbed by all the pressure and noise around him, there is no certainty it will continue. As admirable as Wemby’s accomplishments have been, there is still room for improvement. Of course, you can say that he is in the best of hands in Gregg Popovich. But will it be enough to develop him as a franchise-leading figure? Or will bringing in elite stars looking to win a ring as quickly as possible be the right kind of mentors to mold Victor Wembanyama into the eventual champion he is destined to be?

The answer to these can perhaps be found in the journey of his fellow international colleagues.

A quick look into Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo’s path to champions

Nikola Jokić was not a top 5 prospect nor a first-round pick. He was the 41st pick of Denver in 2014 with GM Tim Connelly not giving much thought to it. As if that wasn’t enough, a Taco Bell commercial overshadowed his draft announcement! Who could have predicted this 6’11 Coca-Cola lover from Sombor, Serbia, would turn out to be the franchise lynchpin?

However, it took nine long years for the ‘Joker’ to reach that stage. There was a time when the 3x MVP couldn’t even hold a plank for 20 seconds! Of course, he isn’t exactly this thundering giant, coming at you at breakneck speed, destroying everything in its way. But he does all of that in his own Jokic way. More importantly, Nikola has risen as one of the dominant centers of this era and is an absolute threat.

What about Giannis Antetokounmpo? Drafted as the 15th pick in the 2013 NBA draft, the ‘Greek Freak’ was truly a freak of nature. A 6’11 height combined with a 7’3 wingspan, he had a wide range of skills at his disposal. His size and length were perfect for a center while his agility, athleticism, and improving ball-handling skills made him desirable as a guard. However, he wasn’t exactly well-known in NBA circles as his fellow draft picks.

Yet, Antetokounmpo soon made his mark. Recognizing his potential and talent, the Milwaukee Bucks training staff ensured he was surrounded by all the right pieces and the right environment to flourish. The result was the franchise’s second championship in 50 years in 2021.

So, what Gilbert Arenas is probably trying to say is that it’s imperative to invest right in Victor Wembanyama to develop him into a true weapon before bringing in the big guns that can propel them to a championship. Do you agree? Or do you think the Spurs are moving in the right direction? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

 But before you go, be sure to check this video of Leonardo Armato’s take on Caitlin Clark vs Angel Reese.

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