As he continues to reap worldwide attention in the basketball landscape, Victor Wembanyama already got a plot on what’s next for him after his Summer League time with the San Antonio Spurs.
As such, he is planning to seize a necessary hiatus – off from people and the media – in preparation for a much anticipated 2023-24 campaign in front of him.
“I gonna talk with Pop. I’m gonna listen to what he say, but I’m ready to make any sacrifice for the team and give 100%. I’m just gonna need to sit down with the Spurs to know what the next months are gonna be like – when to go on vacation, when to start back working out, where I’m gonna practice in San Antonio or somewhere else,” he said about his following offseason plans.
“We got two to three great months that are coming and they’re gonna change my life. I’m probably gonna disappear from the media for next months honestly.
As he declared his challenging decision of ineligibility to take part for Les Bleus in the upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup in the Philippines, Wembanyama got considerable time to rest his physical and mental capacity after months of hectic and grinding involvement in basketball.
Fresh from his final service for the Metropolitans 92 in the French League Finals, Wembanyama quickly hit the red carpet of the 2023 Draft late in June as the most hyped-up prospect since LeBron James.
Fast forward to two weeks, the perception around him even went upside down this week as he made a statement performance this Sunday to bounce back from his underwhelming Summer League debut for the Spurs. Shutting down the doubters who negatively criticized him from his tournament opener, Wembanyama registered 27 points and 12 blocks on a losing effort against the Portland Trail Blazers — quickly reabsorbing the intrigue of all.
From the intensified coverage of fans, media, and other entities after being chosen as the No. 1 overall pick by San Antonio, the phenom is certainly in need of a break from the real world.
Wembanyama is also happy that the San Antonio franchise won’t hit a new direction as Gregg Popovich inked an extension.
The NBA’s winningest coach and the mastermind of Spurs’ existence in the modern era, Popovich formally agreed to a new five-year, $80 million deal with Spurs that makes him the highest-paid coach ever in the association.
The pact also locks the longtime mentor as the guiding force of Wembanyama toward growth and continued ascension as a generational wonder.
“Of course it’s another sign from him and from the franchise that they care about the project. There’s something great going on starting,” Wembanyama said about Popovich’s extension.
“We kind of knew it was going to happen but now it’s [like] let’s get it rolling and we can get started now.”
