Victor Wenbanyama appeared in simply two video games for the San Antonio Spurs within the NBA 2K24 Summer season League in Las Vegas, after which the Spurs saved him out for the remainder of the summer season to keep away from doable damage. stopped.
Wenbanyama, a French native who was chosen because the primary choose within the 2023 NBA Draft, is a powerful contender for subsequent season’s NBA Rookie of the 12 months with odds of -130.
Wenbanyama didn’t seem in Tuesday night time’s recreation between the Spurs and the Washington Wizards. The Spurs held him again earlier than Wenbanyama was injured.
Two of the highest 4 picks had been injured of their NBA 2K24 Summer season League debuts. Scoot Henderson, the No. 2 choose within the 2023 NBA Draft, left Friday night time’s recreation with an damage to his proper shoulder. Armen Thompson, the No. 4 choose from the Houston Rockets, sprained his left ankle in the identical recreation as Henderson.
Each the Path Blazers and Rockets have determined that their prime draft picks is not going to play in any extra summer season league video games.
Former No. 1 choose within the 2019 NBA Draft, Zion Williamson suffered a sprained knee whereas enjoying for the New Orleans Pelicans throughout the 2019 NBA Summer season League in Las Vegas. Williamson has since been plagued with accidents in his quick profession, which has led many groups to be cautious of prime draft picks coming to Las Vegas.
Quick keep in Las Vegas for Wenbanyama
Las Vegas was a wild journey for 19-year-old Wenbanyama. A short affair between his bodyguard and pop star Britney Spears thrust the No. 1 draft choose into the tabloid zeitgeist and made him the topic of an web meme.
The distraction made French-born Wenbanyama cautious of America’s celebrity-obsessed, TMZ-obsessed inhabitants and the unrelenting 24/7 sports activities information cycle. Wenbanyama stated he wanted to remain out of the media after his ill-fated finish with Spears.
Basketball has been lower than 50% of our schedule over the previous month,” Wenbanyama stated. “I am unable to stand it. I do know it is a particular second in my life, however I am glad it is over. I simply wish to be in hoops and coaching.”
Wenbanyama struggled in his summer season league debut in opposition to the Charlotte Hornets on Friday. He scored 9 factors and missed 11 pictures, together with 5 3-pointers. In opposition to the Portland Path Blazers on Sunday, Wenbanyama had 27 factors and 12 rebounds in his second recreation, making him a near-top choose.
“One thing nice is beginning,” Wenbanyama stated. “I form of knew this was going to occur, however let’s do it.”
Wenbanyama recorded 54 minutes in two video games in opposition to Spurs. He scored 36 factors, rebounded 20, and blocked eight pictures. He made 41% of his pictures from the ground and 30% of his 3-point pictures.
The Spurs determined two video games was sufficient publicity for Wenbanyama. The group selected to not roll the cube on the franchise’s future on the danger of damage within the ensuing summer season league recreation.
“We had two video games scheduled from the start,” stated Mike Finger. San Antonio Categorical Information. “The Spurs needed him to get a style of the NBA, and he acquired it.”
Spurs prolong Pops for an additional 5 years
Head coach Gregg Popovich signed a five-year contract extension price $80 million to stay head coach of the Spurs. The brand new deal places an finish to hypothesis that the 74-year-old Popovich will quickly retire.
In 2022, Popovich handed Don Nelson for probably the most wins in NBA historical past. He is now coached in 2,127 video games (all with the Spurs) and has a profession file of 1,366-761.
Profitable the Spurs on this yr’s NBA Draft Lottery was among the best doable situations for Wenbanyama. A number of prospects, together with David Robinson, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Kawhi Leonard, all developed below Popovich’s steering.
By locking up Popovich all through the 2027-28 season, the Spurs promised to maintain the long run Corridor of Fame coach on their facet whereas Wenbanyama is within the NBA.
Popovich has +2200 odds of profitable the 2024 NBA Coach of the 12 months award.
The Spurs had been the worst workforce within the Western Convention final season with a file of 22-60. Solely the Detroit Pistons (17-65) misplaced extra video games than the Spurs final season.
The Spurs can have 30.5 over-under wins subsequent season.
The Spurs have +20,000 odds of profitable the 2023-24 NBA Championship, in keeping with the DraftKings. Possible, the underside eight groups on the Futures Board have longer odds. The Spurs final received a championship in 2014, the fifth below Popovich since 1999.
The Spurs have +10,000 odds of profitable the Western Convention subsequent season. They received back-to-back convention titles in 2013 and 2014.
The Spurs have probability of profitable the Southwest Division, which they final achieved in 2017, with odds of +4000.
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