2023-06-23 15:11:07
Spurs coach for almost 30 years (1996), Gregg Popovich, 74, has seen phenomena in San Antonio, but he is delighted to coach the wonder Wembanyama, 19, the first Frenchman in NBA history drafted in first position, on the night of Thursday to Friday.
“We are delighted to be able to bring Victor in,” he said at a press conference on Thursday evening. He’s damn talented, he’s a very mature young man. Anyone would be delighted to have the first choice. I am very excited. »
Popovich gave some details on how he intended to develop the 19-year-old Frenchman. “Despite all the expectations, it is a question of not skipping the steps, and this at all levels, he explained. What interests us the most is to set up a framework and an environment where he feels comfortable, where he can be Victor. We’ll watch it and see what happens. I learned that from Manu (Ginobili). You can’t force players to be what you think they should be. He’s not LeBron (James), or Tim (Duncan), or Kobe (Bryant), or anyone else. He’s Victor, and that’s what we want him to be. So we will do what we have done in the past with all the players. We will be there to advise, suggest, answer questions, be available. »
Despite the young age of the new recruit and the passion she arouses, the Texan coach is optimistic about his ability to manage his new status: “We don’t know each other yet. From what I can see, I don’t think he’ll need me to stand up to the pressure. He has great dispositions for this, both intellectual and emotional. He understands the enthusiasm around him, the attention that is brought to him. He manages it very well, just look at his arrival at the airport in New York, where he signed autographs smiling at everyone. He understands that there is a way to shoulder this responsibility. »
As for Wemby’s participation in the Summer League, Popovich was quite evasive: “We’re discussing it. He will participate, but I do not yet know in what form. We have to decide together, but he will be present at some point. »
Finally, regarding Wembanyama’s presence with the France team at the World Cup from August 25 to September 10, Popovich did not comment: “We have not yet made a decision on this subject”.
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