Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs will usher in the next era of the NBA.
From 1997 to roughly 2017, the San Antonio Spurs were the standard when it came to team building in the NBA. The blueprint was rather simple: draft players who can put the team ahead of themselves. In the modern NBA, players like that don’t really seem to exist anymore, although Victor Wembanyama seems to be the exception to that rule. However, the Spurs can follow a different strategy when it comes to building around their young star. In the past, “teamwork” was the buzzword in San Antonio.
In the Wemby-era, “versatility” will reign supreme. The Spurs are building a defensive-minded team, although they’re really building a roster centered around whatever their best player’s strength is. Luckily for the Spurs, Wembanyama’s sheer talent and versatility prevents them from having to overpay players or make long-term commitments, because Wembanyama’s playstyle lends itself well to playing with pretty much anyone.
Want to have four shooters around him and let him be the only interior player? That can work. Want to pair him with Stephon Castle and Jeremy Sochan, two non-factors behind the arc but elite defenders? Wembanyama can space the floor on offense enough to cover for them.
Want to implement a physical, oversized lineup? A 7-4 center is a good place to start. Related: Spurs Could Rival Warriors in Jimmy Butler Trade Sweepstakes The Spurs will likely go through a couple of identity changes during the Wembanyama era, which should work shockingly well.
He’s made it clear that he wants to be the best player in the world, but more importantly, he wants to be on the best team in the world. He is not a selfish player and his versatile skillset allows the Spurs plenty of flexibility when building around him. The rest of the league will likely follow the blueprint, paying one player to be the centerpiece that a diverse supporting cast can be built around.