Gregg Popovich 'Still Trying to Figure Out' Victor Wembanyama After San Antonio Spurs Loss

After the San Antonio Spurs lost their first preseason game, Gregg Popovich admitted he was and is baffled about how to use Victor Wembanyama.

The San Antonio Spurs fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder 121-122 to open up the preseason. 

If this were a regular season game, post-game reactions would be all about how the Spurs blew a seven-point lead after a dominant first half, but in the preseason, wins don’t matter that much so all the focus can be about individual performances.

As expected, all eyes were on Victor Wembanyama, and he delivered. The first overall draft pick posted 20 points in 19 minutes of action and looked much more polished than initially expected. Sure, there were some ugly turnovers and unfortunate fouls, but the phenom looked like all the hype was worth it in an excellent all-around performance. After the game, head coach Gregg Popovich seemed as baffled as most fans, although that could just be the façade fans and media have come to expect.

“I thought it was fun. He just went out and played. No big-game plan for him or anything like that, he just played basketball, which he likes to do and he’s good at,” Popovich said. 

When asked how opposing defenses will handle him, Pop answered, “I don’t know, we’ll see. We’ll see. We’re still trying to figure out whether he should be on the perimeter or on the post, and in what situations where we can take most advantage of his abilities. I’m not sure if he’s even sure, but it will be a little bit of both. He’s a smart guy, so he’ll figure it out even if I don’t.”

Victor Wembanyama was the center of attention against the Thunder.  / Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports

It’s safe to say that the “figuring out” will be done by Coach Pop, even if he wants to quip about Wembanyama’s sky-high basketball IQ. Still, having a weapon who can guard and play every position is new to the Spurs. 

Jeremy Sochan showed flashes last season, but he isn’t 7-4 and isn’t a reliable knockdown shooter. Even Nikola Jokic, another big man who can do it all, is not an elite defender like Wembanyama is assumed to be. No one can blame Popovich for needing any possible extra time to figure out what to do with Wemby.