Building Victor Wembanyama: Spurs Icon Tim Duncan To Help
San Antonio Spurs legend Tim Duncan left a major mark on the franchise during his storied 19-year career. Between winning five championships and earning two MVPs, 15 All-NBA Team nods, and 15 All-Defensive Team nods, he is undoubtedly one of the greatest players not only in franchise history but to ever play in the NBA.
The next era of Spurs basketball will be led by another big man — French phenom Victor Wembanyama — as a result of the organization the 1st overall pick in the NBA Draft Lottery. The whole NBA world has high expectations for what Wembanyama will achieve in his career, even higher than what legends like Duncan achieved in their storied careers.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Tim Duncan — along with Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili — will assist in Wembanyama's on-court development as the rookie adjusts to the NBA when the team is in San Antonio.
"The expectation is that he will regularly visit the team's practice facility to work with Wembanyama when the Spurs are home," Stein wrote. "'Imagine the mentors he will have,' said one admiring rival executive, referring to Manu Ginobili and Parker as well as Duncan."
While Duncan isn't expected to join the Spurs officially, he will be working with the team for the first time since he worked as an assistant coach during the 2019-20 season. Back in 2022, when discussing Duncan's coaching stint, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich made clear that he "gave up" on trying to get Duncan to coach.
"He may never go to a game the rest of his life. But he comes to practices and walks around to see the boys play. But he has no interest in coaching," Popovich said in 2022. "Yeah. I gave up. When we had him [Duncan] that one year, I gave up after a week. It shows a maturity and intelligence, unlike some of us. We just keep doing it because we love it. But he has other interests. He's not wedded to basketball. People fall in love, but basketball doesn't really love you. Your friends and family love you. Basketball doesn't love you."
Duncan's interest in assisting Wembanyama's development shows just how special the situation is for the Spurs organization. Tonight’s draft will mark the first time that San Antonio will have selected a top pick since Duncan was drafted in 1999. It will also mark the franchise's third No. 1 selection with David Robinson being the first in 1987.
After a 22-60 season, the Spurs are rebuilding for the future. There is great excitement for what Wembanyama can help them achieve. There is much to be learned from Duncan, including how to make an immediate impact in the NBA. He averaged a staggering 21.1 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks and played all 82 games.
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