One of the biggest reasons to look forward to the upcoming NBA season is the debut of rookie Victor Wembanyama, who seems to have “superstar” written all over his 7-foot-4 frame.
The San Antonio Spurs first-year man is the most anticipated player to come into the league since LeBron James, and many feel he can become the best player in the world within about three to five years.
It will be a process for Wembanyama and the young Spurs, but he is already aiming high, as he says “the ideal start” would be making the playoffs as a rookie, per Legion Hoops.
Victor Wembanyama on his rookie season:
“The ideal start would already be the playoffs. But I’m patient, and I know it will happen. Not winning my first few years is no barrier to becoming a Hall of Famer or winning five later.”
(via @Eurohoopsnet) pic.twitter.com/6yNAnwoiDe
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) September 20, 2023
San Antonio went 22-60 last season, which was tied for the worst record in the Western Conference, and they haven’t been to the playoffs since the 2018-19 campaign.
They do have two decent players in Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell, but both are young, and they have a lack of veterans who could help them at least claim a play-in tournament spot.
However, if they do miss the playoffs, it wouldn’t be a black mark on Wembanyama’s record, as he himself alluded to.
James himself missed the playoffs in both of his first two seasons, as did Kevin Durant, while Giannis Antetokounmpo failed to appear in the postseason in his first season.
It takes a team to win, and the simple reality of the NBA is that it takes time to build a winning program around a great player, especially nowadays with an increasingly punitive salary cap.
Luckily, Wembanyama is with the right organization in the Spurs, who won five championships with Tim Duncan and have plenty of experience with building and maintaining winning teams.
NEXT: Victor Wembanyama Reveals His Plans For 2024 Olympics
