San Antonio Spurs' Tre Jones Praises 'Extremely Intelligent' Victor Wembanyama

"He's extremely intelligent on the court and already knows how to make different reads," San Antonio Spurs guard Tre Jones said of Victor Wembanyama.

SAN ANTONIO - The new core of San Antonio Spurs took to the podium on Media Day. 

Four of the five expected starters, along with likely sixth man Keldon Johnson took the dais, but the one starter who was left off was the one with perhaps the most pressure on his shoulders as Wemby-mania officially got rolling.

Tre Jones, 23, has a modest new 2-year, $20 million dollar contract, a brand new wife after summertime nuptials, a beautiful young daughter who loves the Texas heat and the keys to the Spurs' immediate future. That's all really nice but the 3rd-year pro from Duke understands how long he runs the point guard position with Victor Wembanyama won't last long if it doesn't work.

Jones played for Mike Krzyzewski in college and now the equally demanding Gregg Popovich and knows no lies will be told, no BS will be tolerated and the job is his to lose. Play well, mesh with Wembanyama or the Spurs will look elsewhere and he knows it. Jones' easy going nature should serve him well as he takes the job into training camp. 

Jones says Wembanyama will actually make his job easier than it's ever been in San Antonio. 

San Antonio Spurs guard Tre Jones / © Scott Wachter, USA TODAY

"He's extremely intelligent on the court and already knows how to make different reads," Jones said of Wembanyama.

It'll be a group effort by the entire organization to get their new 19 year old phenom completely up to speed and guided correctly during his rookie season but perhaps nobody else in the building can have more of a lasting impact on him directly than Jones who's also spent time off the court getting to know Wembanyama. Just a young man himself, Jones will serve as big brother in this relationship knowing that Wemby carries the enormity of expectations almost unprecedented in NBA history. 

"He has a challenge none of us have really seen before," Jones said.

There was definitely a fresh air in the room on Media Day. Even Popovich couldn't deny that fact and it should bode well for bonding during camp and the early part of the season but there is also a tension among the Spurs players not named Victor. They all know that while the good times seem to be ahead, whether any of them will be around for them remains to be seen. Those who don't vibe with Wemby on the court won't be Spurs for the long haul. 

Jones knows that all too well.