Wemby touts bond with front office
Spurs rookie star Victor Wembanyama said Thursday he’s on the same page with the front office when it comes to mapping out the team’s future.
“I feel like there’s no internal, there is no fights between us, so it is good,” Wembanyama said. “It’s the right way for the future.”
Speaking to the media after a lengthy post-practice on-court session with coach Gregg Popovich and assistant coach Mitch Johnson, Wembanyama described his relationship with the front office as “the best.”
“I couldn’t ask for better,” he said. “Of course, my job is to be on the court and make baskets, but the fact that we work together, it is the best for both our developments.”
Wembanyama’s thoughts on working with general manager Brian Wright and his staff on the team’s rebuild was a topic of discussion after the 20-year-old native of France said last weekend in Austin that “more and more” he is “part of the strategy for the future.”
Wembanyama was asked to elaborate on what his involvement would entail as the Spurs study ways to improve their roster through the draft, trades and free agency, all of which Popovich said are “on the table” heading into the offseason.
“It’s a lot of communication with the coaches and the front office, of course, to know where we are comfortable with each other in the game and where we’re not comfortable, to know what kind of pieces we would need to add,” he said.
“So it is a lot of discussion because, at the end of the day, the GM, the front office, they know their job, they can do almost anything with what we got today. But it’s a matter of how well they understand us, the players and the coaches about where we want to go and how we want to develop.”
While he said his role as a “leader” and the cornerstone for the future is “important,” he will “stay on my side” when it comes to offering input, although he added that he’s certain the front office will ask him questions about French prospects in the draft.
“I’m ready to be involved and to collaborate and give and help in any way I can help,” he said.
Rookie center hopes to avoid franchise infamy
Wembanyama said he views Friday night’s game against Memphis (23-47) and the season finale against Detroit (15-54) as must-win games as the Spurs (15-54) seek to avoid finishing with the worst record in franchise history (20-62 by the 199697 team).
The Spurs host the Grizzlies and the Pistons and play at Memphis on April 9. Their only other game against a sub-.500 team in their remaining 13 games will be at Utah (29-40) on Wednesday.
Asked how important it is for the team to finish with at least 21 wins, Wembanyama said, “It’s very important. The whole focus is on winning these games. We’ve had our ups and downs in the season, but we know each other way better today, so it all comes down to all of our personal efforts to make this work. But it is going to work.”
Beating Memphis twice could also help the Spurs acquire Toronto’s first-round pick in 2024. The Raptors traded the top six-protected pick to the Spurs for Jakob Poeltl at last season’s trade deadline. Top-six protected means the Spurs own it as long as it doesn’t fall in the top six. Toronto is 23-46.
“As I said before, my job is to make baskets, so I want to win every game,” Wembanyama said. “But I’m sure (the team) thinks about (the importance of beating Memphis).”
Collins questionable to play against Grizzlies
The Spurs list Zach Collins (concussion protocol) as questionable for Friday vs. Memphis after he participated in practice today.
The backup center sat out Tuesday’s loss to Dallas after he suffered a spill in Sunday’s win over Brooklyn in Austin.