Everyone agrees that Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs might be one of the best rookies in decades.
But everyone also agrees that he will only find true success in the NBA if he has a strong team around him.
Gregg Popovich was asked if he’s thought about pairing Wembanyama with Zach Collins for the Spurs’ frontcourt.
“If I don’t, I’m an idiot,” Popovich replied according to Kelly Iko.
Asked Coach Popovich if he could see a Wembanyama + Collins front court pairing because of their inside-outside versatility.
“If I don’t, I’m an idiot.” https://t.co/IXx2uIblys
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) October 17, 2023
That is the sort of reply that fans expect from the always-mordant Popovich.
It’s humorous but it also proves that Popovich likes what he sees from Wembanyama alongside Collins.
Last season, Collins recorded 11.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game on 51.8% from the floor.
As mentioned by Iko, he could be a great frontcourt complement for Wembanyama by building a strong inside-outside combination while assisting with spacing.
Understandably, it is expected that Wembanyama will be the heart and soul of the Spurs’ rotation this year.
So now the question is who works best by his side.
Popovich has the sort of experience and knowledge that can figure this out.
Although they have been severely lacking for the last few years, the Spurs have a ton of young talent ready to prove itself.
They also have one of the greatest coaches of all time.
Now they have a rookie who has caught the attention of the entire NBA world.
If Popovich can figure out the right arrangement of players to perform next to Wembanyama, the team could definitely be a force in the West.
Next week, Wembanyama’s first season in the league begins and fans will see just how much he can do with Popovich’s leadership and a youthful and eager team.
NEXT: Richard Jefferson Makes Big Projection For Victor Wembanyama's Career
