It is now 10 years since the San Antonio Spurs won their last NBA title back in 2014.
Last season the San Antonio Spurs could not have been further away from their title triumph, finishing with a 22-60 record.
Only the Portland Trail Blazers (21-61) ended with a worse record in the Western Conference.
There was one bright spot to emerge during the season, their highly anticipated young star Victor Wembanyama.
Victor Wembanyama potential
Victor Wembanyama stands at a freakishly tall 7ft 4″ and the Frenchman was the Spurs’ 2023 number one draft pick.
Still now only 20-years-old, Wembanyama had a solid year adapting to the NBA despite the Spurs’ struggles, putting up 21.4 points per game.
Wembanyama was named the NBA Rookie of the Year at the end of the regular season, and NBA expert Kirk Goldsberry is very excited about his potential.
Speaking to the Bill Simmons podcast, he went on record to state Wembanyama is San Antonio’s brightest prospect in recent memory.
He explained: “It’s incredible. I mean, Wemby is the best basketball player we’ve had here in the San Antonio market for a long time. Since Kawhi left, I think that’s safe to say.
“And he is the best prospect the Spurs have had, I would say, of all time.
“And then I say that with all due respect to David Robinson and Tim Duncan, who are absolute icons and led this franchise to the greatest places it could possibly go. But it’s very exciting.
“I think the Olympics this summer even increased it because he brought Team USA to the brink of a huge upset in Paris.
“I had some of my friends at the Spurs describe it as the perfect outcome for the summer because he got close, he got a taste, he proved to the world that he’s that good. And we’re just getting ready for this rise.”
Tim Duncan and David Robinson’s incredible achievements
Tim Duncan is one of the greatest NBA players of all time, a five times NBA champions and two-times MVP.
David Robinson was a two-times NBA champions and won the MVP once, and together they are two of the Spurs greatest players.
Victor Wembanyama is at the start of his career, playing just one season so far, and the comparisons with Duncan are understandable.
Both players were first-round picks, and Duncan’s first year saw him average 21.1 points per game. It was a different era back in 1997/98, yet the similarities in career path with Wembanyama are striking.
Spurs fans and NBA fans in general should hope Wembanyama can continue to ascend and enjoy the same kind of success through his career Duncan did, who extended his success right through to 2014.
For it to be claimed he is a better prospect than both Duncan and Robinson, that is high praise.
