Victor Wembanyama went 1st overall in the 2023 NBA draft. The excitement in the NBA circles is palpable. He is the tallest player in the league now. Several media outlets are coming up with bytes from the actual event. Various sports personalities are speaking about what the draft means for Victor and the team.? A central point of focus has been his fit within the San Antonio Spurs.
That’s specifically on the mind of Michelle Beadle, the San Antonio Spurs correspondent who spoke on the Rich Eisen Show recently. And not just that, the two have another discussion going on about Victor joining the Spurs.
Victor Wembanyama and Gregg Popovich compared to Al Pacino’s fatherhood at 83
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The difference in the ages of Victor and his head coach is staggering. Between the two lies a staggering 55-year difference. To put it into perspective, the NBA has only been around for 77 years. Pop is not just a landmark of the league, he is one of its most resilient and sharpest minds.
Beadle spoke on Eisen’s show about coaching an NBA team, saying, “It’s not for the weakhearted. I think, look, unless something drastic would have happened, new ownership, what have you,? then we know whoever comes next, is going to be thought out, is going to be part of the Pop tree.”
They were discussing Victor joining the fray with Coach Pop when the host dropped a bombshell in the form of an Al Pacino analogy. Eisen commented, “It’s like Pacino choosing who the nanny’s going be at ninety,” a reference to the fact that Al Pacino recently became a father at the age of 83.
The drafting of Victor to the Spurs signals the coming together of two highly touted talents from different sides of the court. The basketball fraternity has high expectations from Victor, and Gregg Popovich has a record of his own to uphold. After all, every Spurs championship has come under the tutelage of Coach Pop.
Fans are beside themselves, imagining what these two will be able to achieve together, given what they have achieved in the world of sports as individuals.
What can Wembanyama and Popovich achieve together?
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Popovich is famous for having tough love for members of his team. After leading the Spurs to? 22 straight playoff appearances and their only five championships, his approach seems to have worked out pretty well. Going by the past, coming under Popovich’s wing will be one of the best things for Wembanyama’s career.
There are, of course, some aspects of the interpersonal dynamics that will have a play here. With the head coach having worked with the best, he won’t be easily impressed. Fans watch highlights, coaches see hard work. Popovich has coached David Robinson and Tim Duncan, two premiere big men in the league’s history.
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This might be the perfect platform for the experienced and the developing to bond together and shake the NBA. We’re all curious to see what kind of history this pairing can create together.
Watch This Story: How Much Will Victor Vembanyama Earn During His Rookie NBA Season at the San Antonio Spurs