My Two Cents: Victor Wembanyama Has Quiet Debut, But Potential Looks Frightening

The hype around No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama is off the charts, and the world finally got to see him suit up in a game for the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night. He didn't have much of a stat line playing with teammates he had just met the day before, but his crazy skill set for 7-foot-4 was on full display. This is going to be fun to watch.

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — The latest ''next great thing'' had just met all of his Las Vegas Summer League teammates a few days earlier, and San Antonio Spurs top pick Victor Wembanyama had never played a game with any of them.

It showed a little bit Friday. The 7-foot-4 Frenchmen was a little rusty, and he didn't get many shots to fall, going just 2-for-13 from the field. He made just one of his six three-pointers — the last one — and finished with nine points. 

He also had eight rebounds, five blocked shots and three assist. There's no question you can absolutely see what all the fuss is about.

“There’s a lot of conditioning to do to be able to play an 82-game season,” he said. “When I was sent out [of the game], I was always tired and exhausted.”

“It was a special moment, really special to wear that jersey for the first time,” Wembanyama said. “It’s really an honor. Overall, I’m glad we won this game. Honestly, I didn’t really know what I was doing on the court tonight. But I’m trying to learn for the next games. The important [part] is to be ready for the season.

“There’s a lot of conditioning to do to be able to play an 82-game season,” he said. “When I was sent out [of the game], I was always tired and exhausted.”

Wembanyama's NBA arrival is the biggest story since LeBron James joined the league two decades ago. It was such a big deal that the 17,800-seat Thomas & Mack Arena on the UNLV campus was sold out for his debut. 

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich flew to Vegas for the debut, as did assistant coach Brett Brown, general manager Brian Wright and Spurs chief executive R.C. Buford.  

Spurs players Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell, who worked out with Wembanyama for a few days before leaving San Antonio, came along for the ride, too.  also attended 

“There’s a really good dynamic with this group. It’s not every team that would have almost the whole team on the sideline like this,” Wembanyama said. “Of course, they were always supportive. I practiced with them a little bit, sthey gave me advice. They trust me and they believe in me. It’s really comforting.”

Wembanyama is thrilled to be with the Spurs, especially with all the success that Popovich and the organization has had, winning world championships in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014. David Robinson and Tim Duncan were special — and unique in their own way — Hall of Fame big men, but we've never seen a 7-foot-4 player with this skill set before.

He can play on the perimeter and dribble past defenders. He has quick feet and spin moves and a feathery shooting touch, despite Friday's numbers.

There were times he dribbled too much, a by-product of TRYING to do too much instead of just letting the game come to him. Maybe inside he wanted to show everyone he's a guard and not a center, but he probably also forget that no one could stop him in the block, either. 

Once the forward handled the ball near the basket, though, he dribbled it too often, leading to avoidable turnovers. The rookie also attempted too many moves near the bucket as defenders collapsed onto him.

He had only one practice with his summer league teammates, so there is clearly still a lot to learn. But at least Game 1 is done. 

“He hadn’t played with those guys yet,” Spurs assistant coach Matt Nielsen told NBA.com. “He did a good job. There was a lot of attention on him. Overall, I thought he executed really well.”

Wembanyama is back in action on Sunday — 8 p.m. ET on ESPN — and it's reasonable to assume that the star 19-year-old will be more comfortable. 

“Sometimes I was off-rhythm with the plays and the calls,” Wembanyama said. “I think the biggest improvements I’ve got to do is be ready to react to the plays that were called by the point guard and stay connected.”

Learning his teammates — and opponents — on the defensive end will come in time, too. He got lost a few times, and got posterized on a dunk by Kai Jones that made all the SportsCenter highlight. 

“We’ve got a lot to adjust on defense because I often guard [players that are] not the big man,” he said. “This is what I was talking about earlier [as far as] staying connected with what the defense is. We’re gonna get scored on sometimes. It’s gonna happen. The good thing is it’s the Summer League and we’re here to learn.”

The Spurs only won 22 games last year and haven't made the playoffs in four years. It sure likes this is going to be a team on the rise once again. 

Related stories on NBA Las Vegas Summer League

• ROCKETS TOP PICK THOMPSON INJURES ANKLE: Amen Thompson, the fourth-overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets, injured his ankle during their summer league game on Friday night.: “It’s pretty sore.” He says it’s up to the Rockets’ staff if he returns in the summer league. Here's the latest update. CLICK HERE
• KAI JONES SHOWS UP VICTOR WEMBANYAMA: Much of the summer league attention has been focused on San Antonio Spurs top pick Victor Wembanyama, but Charlotte's Kai Jones got the best of him on this dunk. Here's the impressive highlight. CLICK HERE
• COMPLETE SUMMER LEAGUE SCHEDULE: The NBA's Las Vegas Summer league is off and running, with all 30 teams in town and young rosters playing in front of sell-out crowds. Games started on Friday, and concludes with a championship game on July 17. Here's the complete schedule, with game times and TV information, plus a daily update on the scores. CLICK HERE
• JACKSON-DAVIS OUT FOR WARRIORS: Second-round pick Trayce Jackson-Davis is still bothered by a hamstring injury, and the Golden State Warriors are in no hurry to rush him back. He was held out again Friday night when they opened Las Vegas Summer League play against the Los Angeles Lakers. CLICK HERE
• DAY 1 TOP PLAYERS: Houston power forward Jabari Smith Jr. had a huge night Friday, scoring 33 points and hitting a three-pointer at the buzzer as the Rockets beat the Portland Trail Blazers Friday night in the Las Vegas Summer League. Here are three players who caught my eye on the first day. CLICK HERE
• DAY 1 PHOTO GALLERY: Every single NBA team has descended upon Sin City for the 2024 Las Vegas Summer League to showcase their young talent. While the very first day had lots of highlights on Friday, the biggest ones came from the much-anticipated debut of Victor Wenbanyama, the first overall pick of the San Antonio Spurs. CLICK HERE
• SCOTT HENDERSON INJURED: Scoot Henderson, the No. 3 overall pick by the Portland Trail Blazers, injured his shoulder on Friday night and didn't finish their summer league game on Friday. It's serious enough that he's going to get an MRI on Saturday. Here's the latest. CLICK HERE