Old friend awaits Wembanyama
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Victor Wembanyama knew what was coming.
Next up for the Spurs, after a 117-98 loss at Boston on Wednesday, comes a back-to-back at Charlotte on Friday and Washington on Saturday.
Wembanyama was aware what that meant. Still barred from playing two nights in a row by the team’s medical staff, the Spurs’ 20-year-old rookie would have no choice but to sit out one of the games.
He had a preference as to which one to miss, but not a vote.
“I was trying to be detached from (the decision) and just say, ‘I’ll trust the coaching staff, whatever they want me to do,’ ” Wembanyama said.
The news Wembanyama received before leaving Boston was the best he could have hoped for.
The team had decided to rest him against the Hornets, rendering him available for Saturday’s game against the Wizards and his friend, Washington rookie Bilal Coulibaly.
“I wish I could play in both,” Wembanyama said. “But of course I’m excited to play against Bilal.”
Wembanyama and Coulibaly were teammates in the French league last season before each became a top-10 NBA draft pick last June.
The Spurs took Wembanyama first overall. Indiana selected Coulibaly at No. 7 and sent him to Washington in a draft-day trade.
As expected, the 7-foot-3
Wembanyama is making a strong case for Rookie of the Year. Coulibaly, a 6-8 shooting guard, had appeared in 38 games for the Wizards heading into Thursday, averaging 8.2 points and 4.3 rebounds while shooting 39% from the 3-point line.
With 3-on-3 work, Collins nears return
Wembanyama’s expected absence against the Hornets will once again leave the Spurs thin in the frontcourt.
Reserve center Zach Collins
has missed nine games since spraining his right ankle in a Dec. 29 loss at Portland. His rehab has progressed to 3-on-3 work, though it is premature to expect him to play in Charlotte.
“It’s been a good rehab,” Collins said. “The ankle has responded well. I’ve been playing more and more the last few days.”
Asked if he could envision himself returning to the court at some point during the Spurs’ road swing that ends Monday in Philadelphia, Collins was optimistic.
“I don’t know which game,” Colllins said, “but the way it’s feeling now for sure.”
With Wembanyama out and Collins likely still shelved, Popovich will lean heavily on second-year big man Dominick Barlow in Charlotte.
Barlow has logged doubledigit minutes in nine consecutive games with Collins out. The last time Wembanyama sat in a backto-back — Saturday against Chicago — Barlow earned his first NBA start.
“He’s just kind of like an Energizer bunny,” Popovich said of
Barlow. “He’s somebody who’s just really learning the game and trying to feel comfortable out there. But he’s bouncy and he runs and he’s a team player.”
Popovich mourns late Warriors assistant
Before Wednesday’s game in Boston, Popovich offered condolences to the friends and family of Golden State assistant coach Dejan Milojevic, who died at 46 after suffering a heart attack late Tuesday night in Salt Lake City.
Milojevic was a member of the Spurs’ summer league staff in 2017.
“Obviously a whole lot of people, starting with his family, are just devastated,” Popovich said.
Milojevic suffered a heart attack while at a private team dinner Tuesday, the night before the Warriors were scheduled to play the Utah Jazz. The NBA postponed that game Wednesday and on Thursday the league postponed Golden State’s Friday night game against Dallas.
Milojevic was in his third season on the Warriors’ bench. Before coming to the NBA, Milojevic coached in his native Serbia, where he mentored a young Nikola Jokic.
Popovich said he did not get to know Milojevic well during his few months with the Spurs squad, but heard positive things about him from Warriors coach Steve Kerr over the years.
“Steve was really, really fond of the guy,” Popovich said. “I talked to a couple people back in Belgrade (on Wednesday) and they were devastated. He had such a bright future. It was all there for him.”