Blake Wesley focused on the boat-size shoes. For Malaki Branham, it was the tennis racquet-like hands.
It was all about first impressions Thursday at the Spurs summer league squad’s opening day of practice, and 7-foot-3 No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama didn’t disappoint.
“My first thing was his feet,” Wesley, a second-year guard, said. “I was like, oh, my, God. I’ve never seen feet like that. Like, wow, (he’s) tall, lanky, long.”
A nice-to-meet-you handshake from one of the most-hyped draft picks in league history left Branham in awe.
“He has long fingers, that’s probably what stood out to me,” said Branham, also a second-year guard.
In Wembanyama’s first workout with the Spurs, there were hints he had some moments that might have gone viral had the session been open to the media, but there were also indications that just like any first-year player, he’s got plenty to learn about the NBA.
“He is learning the Spurs stuff as well,” said Spurs assistant coach Matt Nielsen, who will coach the summer league squad in Sacramento next week and later in Las Vegas. “He’s obviously a good basketball player and all, but there is a lot for him to learn in that area.”
The Spurs haven’t officially announced when he will make his debut in Vegas, but there are indications it could occur sooner rather than later. The club’s first game will be against No. 2 overall pick Brandon Miller and the Charlotte Hornets at 8 p.m. July 7 at the Thomas & Mack Center before it faces the Portland Trail Blazers and No. 3 overall pick Scoot Henderson on July 9.
The first contest will be televised by ESPN. The second one will be carried by ESPN2.
“We’re excited he’s going to play in Vegas,” Wesley said of Wembanyama.
One thing is certain, the third No. 1 overall pick in Spurs history after David Robinson and Tim Duncan will continue to get to know his new teammates and coaches at the Spurs practice facility.
“He’s diving into all of it. … He’s really locked into getting better and learning,” Nielsen said.
And in mature fashion.
“He looks like he cares about the team first and then himself,” Branham said. “We did a lot of scripting and stuff like that, and he’s a fast learner.”
Said Nielsen, “He’s wise, no doubt about it, a lot wiser than I was at 19 years old, but that is not hard. He is a good kid.”
In addition to building chemistry with his new teammates, Wembanyama was on the court for the first time with Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, who roamed around the facility and even playfully snuck up behind Nielsen to take a few photos on his phone of the first-year summer league coach and native of Australia.
“There are going to be a lot of voices,” for Wembanyama to learn from, “and the main one is Pop,” Nielsen said.
Wembanyama might also benefit from being around second-year forward Jeremy Sochan, who participated in Thursday’s practice even though he won’t be on the summer league roster at any point.
“It was great to have everyone out on the court, and Victor did a great job,” Nielsen said.
Although all eyes will be on Wembanyama in Sacramento and Las Vegas, Nielsen and his assistants will also focus on the continued development of Branham and Wesley, now both 20 after joining the Spurs as late first-round, one-and-done teenagers last year.
“They are hungry and they want to get better,” Nielsen said. “And you can say all that, but the actions of the Blakes, the Malakis, the Jeremys (proves it). They have been in here doing the reps at all hours.”
But for now, it’s all about Wembanyama, with his enormous feet, hands and potential.
siphillis
Nope. Still doesn’t feel real.
OGWallenstein
Jeremy kinda real for sticking by Wemby’s side to help him with the transition even though he doesn’t have to.
3 Comments
Blake Wesley focused on the boat-size shoes. For Malaki Branham, it was the tennis racquet-like hands.
It was all about first impressions Thursday at the Spurs summer league squad’s opening day of practice, and 7-foot-3 No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama didn’t disappoint.
“My first thing was his feet,” Wesley, a second-year guard, said. “I was like, oh, my, God. I’ve never seen feet like that. Like, wow, (he’s) tall, lanky, long.”
A nice-to-meet-you handshake from one of the most-hyped draft picks in league history left Branham in awe.
“He has long fingers, that’s probably what stood out to me,” said Branham, also a second-year guard.
In Wembanyama’s first workout with the Spurs, there were hints he had some moments that might have gone viral had the session been open to the media, but there were also indications that just like any first-year player, he’s got plenty to learn about the NBA.
“He is learning the Spurs stuff as well,” said Spurs assistant coach Matt Nielsen, who will coach the summer league squad in Sacramento next week and later in Las Vegas. “He’s obviously a good basketball player and all, but there is a lot for him to learn in that area.”
The Spurs haven’t officially announced when he will make his debut in Vegas, but there are indications it could occur sooner rather than later. The club’s first game will be against No. 2 overall pick Brandon Miller and the Charlotte Hornets at 8 p.m. July 7 at the Thomas & Mack Center before it faces the Portland Trail Blazers and No. 3 overall pick Scoot Henderson on July 9.
The first contest will be televised by ESPN. The second one will be carried by ESPN2.
“We’re excited he’s going to play in Vegas,” Wesley said of Wembanyama.
One thing is certain, the third No. 1 overall pick in Spurs history after David Robinson and Tim Duncan will continue to get to know his new teammates and coaches at the Spurs practice facility.
“He’s diving into all of it. … He’s really locked into getting better and learning,” Nielsen said.
And in mature fashion.
“He looks like he cares about the team first and then himself,” Branham said. “We did a lot of scripting and stuff like that, and he’s a fast learner.”
Said Nielsen, “He’s wise, no doubt about it, a lot wiser than I was at 19 years old, but that is not hard. He is a good kid.”
In addition to building chemistry with his new teammates, Wembanyama was on the court for the first time with Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, who roamed around the facility and even playfully snuck up behind Nielsen to take a few photos on his phone of the first-year summer league coach and native of Australia.
“There are going to be a lot of voices,” for Wembanyama to learn from, “and the main one is Pop,” Nielsen said.
Wembanyama might also benefit from being around second-year forward Jeremy Sochan, who participated in Thursday’s practice even though he won’t be on the summer league roster at any point.
“It was great to have everyone out on the court, and Victor did a great job,” Nielsen said.
Although all eyes will be on Wembanyama in Sacramento and Las Vegas, Nielsen and his assistants will also focus on the continued development of Branham and Wesley, now both 20 after joining the Spurs as late first-round, one-and-done teenagers last year.
“They are hungry and they want to get better,” Nielsen said. “And you can say all that, but the actions of the Blakes, the Malakis, the Jeremys (proves it). They have been in here doing the reps at all hours.”
But for now, it’s all about Wembanyama, with his enormous feet, hands and potential.
Nope. Still doesn’t feel real.
Jeremy kinda real for sticking by Wemby’s side to help him with the transition even though he doesn’t have to.