Victor Wembanyama praised San Antonio’s effort after the Spurs defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 107-91 on Wednesday at Frost Bank Center. “We did what we do. Tried to respect the game plan… They had 91 points, so yeah, just effort,” Wembanyama said.
The Spurs center acknowledged that consistency remains a challenge for the young squad. “It’s bound to happen… We have to reduce the amount of times it happens the most possible, and that’s what it’s going to show what we’re made of,” he added.
Wembanyama emphasized the importance of staying grounded even after a strong win. “It sometimes can be a reset when you’re in a bad losing streak, or the opposite cannot happen if you’re in a winning streak… Too many games, too easy to make mistakes again.”
He also recognized Keldon Johnson’s standout performance. “Oh, of course. Yeah, for sure. Simple as that,” Wembanyama said when asked if Johnson is a tough candidate for Sixth Man of the Year.
Jeremy Sochan’s contributions off limited minutes drew praise from Wembanyama. “Whether it’s 30 seconds or a night like today, he shows things… Effort is never questioned for him,” he said.
Wembanyama shared a lighter moment discussing his warm-up routine, revealing his unique skill of kicking basketballs out of the net. “I could beat that today if I wanted. I’m confident,” he said.
He also stressed the value of communication with teammates, particularly with Julian Champagnie. “We do that pretty often… We want to hold each other accountable and communicate things more directly,” he said.
Wembanyama reflected on his evolving role coming off the bench. “It brings something different… When I come in, I’m trying to run, grab boards, block shots… That’s what role players are doing tonight,” he explained.
He highlighted the locker room dynamic, noting the team’s resilience through mistakes and slumps. “We’ve got guys, energizers in the locker room… We’re really together to help teammates get out of these slumps,” he said.
San Antonio relied on depth and paint scoring, with Wembanyama adding 16 points and 14 rebounds, while Keldon Johnson scored 27 points and Stephon Castle had 15. De’Aaron Fox contributed 14 points as the Spurs controlled rebounds 50-45 and limited Lakers turnovers.
The Lakers, missing LeBron James, Austin Reaves, and Rui Hachimura, saw Luka Doncic record a triple-double of 38 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, but couldn’t overcome San Antonio’s balanced attack.
The Spurs visit Boston on Saturday, while the Lakers return home to face Milwaukee on Friday.
