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SPORTS Tuesday 28 January 2025
A7

Fans see Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama

exceed expectations. What they don’t

see is his work off the court

The Spurs signed Chris Paul
in his 20th NBA season to be
someone that Wembanya-
ma could learn from. And
that is indeed happening;
Paul and Wembanyama say
they talk constantly about
matters both on- and off-
the-court, the wise sage on
one end, the young star on
the other.
Thing is, Paul is learning from
Wembanyama as well.
Conventional basketball
wisdom says the 6-foot point
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) talks with guard would be quarter-
guard Chris Paul (3) during the second half of a Paris Games
2025 NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers in Paris, backing the pick-and-roll
Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. with the towering center.
Associated Press Not anymore. Paul has found
himself at times to be the one
By TIM REYNOLDS heavier NBA defenders. He setting the pick and doing
AP Basketball Writer knows still has to get stronger the rolling, something he
PARIS (AP) — For all the but based on what he was can’t really remember doing
glowing things said in Paris listed at originally and where before now. Such is the ad-
the past few days about he is now 209 to 235 that’s vantage of having a 7-foot-4
San Antonio phenom Vic- a 26-pound bulk-up already. teammate with guard skills.
tor Wembanyama, Hall of And no, he’s not getting “Vic is so unique,” Paul said. “I
Famer Tony Parker probably overpowered. Quite the think everybody just expects
summed matters up more contrary. him to dunk because he’s tall
succinctly than anyone. Wembanyama likely to be and that is not him by any
Asked what the 7-foot-4 named an All-Star means. He can dribble, he
Wembanyama can be- The sky evidently is not even can pass, he can shoot. He
come, Parker didn’t hesitate. the limit for Wembanyama, does a little bit of everything.
“He can be whatever he who came into the league And that’s why it’s been so
wants,” said Parker, part of as the most highly touted fun to play with Vic.”
four of San Antonio’s five prospect since LeBron James Another example: Paul is one
championship teams. “He and has exceeded probably of the best thieves in NBA his-
can be the best. He can be even the loftiest expecta- tory, someone about to pass
the best player in the NBA.” tions. He’ll almost certainly Jason Kidd for No. 2 on the
Many can see why Parker be picked as an All-Star for league’s all-time steals list.
believes that. It goes be- the first time later this week. It’s what Paul does. He goes
yond the numbers. Parker He’s the Defensive Player of for steals. Wembanyama has
gets to see what fans can’t the Year frontrunner. He’ll get tried to get him to think dif-
see, that being how much MVP votes. All this, in just his ferently.
work Wembanyama puts in second season. “I just don’t know how to not
behind the scenes. And he is still learning. go for steals,” Paul said. “To
These are Wembanyama’s “We see something, every play with Vic now, guys will
stats so far this season: 24.5 day, new on the court that dribble into the lane and I’ll
points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.9 he’s building,” Spurs CEO R.C. reach and get a foul and Vic
blocks and 3.7 assists per Buford said. “I’ve watched will just tap me on the shoul-
game. The last player to finish him since he was 15 years old der and remind me that he’s
a season with those numbers and what’s been fascinat- back there. His awareness on
was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, ing is how important that it both ends of the court of-
a half-century ago. is to him to continue to grow fensively and defensively is
Now throw in 3-point shoot- as a player. And now we’re something that you just don’t
ing, which didn’t exist 50 getting to see it every day.” see all the time.”
years ago, and Wemban- Wembanyama can make a Playoffs within reach for
yama who just turned 21 is steal at one end of the floor, Wembanyama, Spurs
putting up stats this season then crossover dribble past a After splitting their two games
like nobody else in the his- defender and let 3-pointers in Paris against Indiana, San
tory of basketball. Unprec- fly from the logo. His passes Antonio is 20-23 on the sea-
edented numbers. are pinpoint. He’s the best son. The Spurs are on the out-
“I’m not there yet,” Wemban- shot-blocker in the league. side looking into the Western
yama said. “I’m still working He’ll reverse-pivot, Eurostep, Conference playoff picture,
on it.”n When he entered the spin toward the baseline, but the play-in tournament
league, the big question was spin away from the baseline, and maybe even a top-six
about whether his slim frame right-hand, left-hand, what- seed are far from out of
would be overpowered by ever it takes to get a shot off. reach. They’re in the mix.q