由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
安德鲁·洛佩兹, ESPN2024年6月13日，上午8:00
维克托·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama) 在圣安东尼奥的首个赛季超出了球队的预期，但也未能带来胜利。
虽然许多人相信文班亚马会立即成为防守端的强大力量，但很少有人相信他能在进攻端取得如此成就。
这位上赛季选秀状元场均得到21.4分，10.6个篮板，3.9次助攻，并以场均3.6次封盖领跑联盟。NBA历史上唯一一位在单赛季达到这一成就的球员是卡里姆·阿卜杜勒-贾巴尔，他在完成这一壮举的两个赛季中都获得了MVP。
文班亚马成为继马努特·波尔之后第二位在联盟中领跑封盖的菜鸟，并最终获得了年度最佳防守球员的第二名。他成为NBA历史上首位入选最佳防守阵容一阵的菜鸟。他也是当之无愧的最佳新秀。
他获得了两个三双，一个是以封盖，另一个是以助攻。文班亚马在这一切的同时还投进了128个三分球，在所有新秀中排名第四。
虽然文班亚马取得了个人成功，但球队的战绩却未能跟上。
圣安东尼奥在赛季开始时赢得了前五场比赛中的三场，包括在菲尼克斯的比赛中取得两场胜利。但作为联盟中最年轻的球队，马刺队逐渐陷入连败，他们的赛季因此受到影响。马刺队需要在最后11场常规赛中赢下7场比赛，才能以22胜60负的战绩结束赛季，这与他们上赛季的战绩相同。
球队管理层知道，即使有了文班亚马，球队也不会立即取得成功，但他们希望至少能够取得比上赛季更好的成绩。
休赛期充满了乐观情绪，这主要集中在文班亚马在出色完成首个赛季后，在攻防两端的表现。马刺队将在接下来的选秀中拥有第四和第八顺位的选秀权，以及两个二轮选秀权，以及可交易的合同，如果他们放弃德文特·格雷厄姆和查尔斯·巴西，可以创造高达1950万美元的薪资空间。
从历史上看，马刺队从未追逐过大牌自由球员，但他们计划最终依靠文班亚马来吸引球员来到圣安东尼奥。目前，马刺队的管理层需要弄清楚如何围绕着他们的这位巨星球员建队。
“我们一直说，我们的发展道路不仅仅是下一个赛季，而是下一个赛季以及以后，”马刺队总经理布莱恩·赖特在赛季结束后说。“那么，你如何采取适当的措施来为球队的发展和进步做好准备，同时保持持续性？”
“我们必须一步一步地做。”
即使在他们王朝时期，马刺队也从未成为真正的自由球员目的地。
他们在2015年成功地将拉马库斯·阿尔德里奇吸引到了圣安东尼奥，并在接下来的一年夏天签下了在芝加哥公牛队打出全明星表现的36岁的保罗·加索尔。但传统上，马刺队培养自己的球员，并签下像布鲁斯·鲍文、帕蒂·米尔斯、艾弗里·约翰逊和丹尼·格林这样的低级别自由球员，他们在德州的炎热天气中闪耀光芒。
鲍文在2001年加入马刺队之前，曾入选过一次最佳防守阵容。米尔斯在波特兰经历了两段不温不火的时期，之后在圣安东尼奥站稳了脚跟。约翰逊在1994年被签下后被放弃，之后在1994年重返球队，并成为了1999年冠军球队的首发控球后卫。格林在2009-10赛季为克利夫兰骑士队打了20场比赛，之后在圣安东尼奥获得了机会。
蒂姆·邓肯和大卫·罗宾逊——就像文班亚马一样——都是状元秀。托尼·帕克在2001年被选中第28顺位。马刺队在1999年的NBA选秀中选中了马努·吉诺比利，之后在2002年加入了马刺队。
尽管如此，马刺队仍然可以成为那些想要与这位独一无二的超级巨星一起打球的球员的目的地。文班亚马最近在“The Ringer”播客中表示，其他球员，包括新秀，已经联系过他，表示他们想和他一起打球。
一位NBA老将告诉ESPN，他相信其他老将会为了和文班亚马一起打球而降低薪资，因为文班亚马可以增加他们夺冠的机会。其他老将整个赛季都在谈论文班亚马是多么出色的球员。
赖特表示，马刺队的管理层计划将文班亚马的存在作为长期的招募工具。
“你会认为随着时间的推移，它会帮助我们，”赖特说。“有很多因素，很明显，格雷格·波波维奇已经在这里待了很长时间，他是多么出色的领袖和教练。整个阵容的成长和发展。这是我们的希望，也是我们整个组织在商业和更广泛领域正在做的事情。”
整个赛季，波波维奇都在谈论不要跳过步骤。这是文班亚马非常理解的事情。
“我一直都是这样，必须耐心，”文班亚马告诉ESPN。“耐心，但也不总是这样，你知道的。即使我们今天还做不到，没有什么能够阻止我们尽最大努力追求它。总有一天，所有这些努力都会得到回报。”
尽管上赛季遭遇失败，包括创造了球队历史上最长的18连败，但文班亚马和他的队友们仍然保持着积极的心态。
波波维奇称赞他的球员们团结一致。
“没有失望，没有抱怨，没有指责，没有自怜，没有类似的事情，”波波维奇在赛季结束后说。“他们经历了艰难的处境，其中一些他们无法控制，比如年轻，没有一起打过球，但由于零星的伤病等因素，对他们来说也很困难，但一切都好像没有发生一样。
“每一次训练，每一次投篮训练，每一场比赛，无论发生什么，他们都为第二天做好准备。这真正体现了他们的品格。我对这一点印象深刻，也对此心存感激，因为输球，在公共汽车和飞机上，可能会非常糟糕，但我们一起吃饭。我们一起度过时光，他们很特别。”
随着赛季的进行，马刺队也随之进步。
全明星周末后，马刺队的防守效率为111.8，在那一阶段排名联盟第12位。全明星周末之前，圣安东尼奥的防守效率为117.5，排名联盟第23位。
在尝试了围绕文班亚马的最佳阵容后，马刺队在下半赛季找到了首发阵容的首选——文班亚马、特雷·琼斯、德文·瓦塞尔、朱利安·查姆帕涅和杰瑞米·索汉——他们在404分钟内的净效率为正3.3。
这个阵容在142分钟内，以凯尔登·约翰逊代替查姆帕涅的情况下，最终的进攻效率为117.4，防守效率为96.6。
在与文班亚马一起打过大量分钟的二人组合中，只有两个组合在本赛季的净效率为正，分别是琼斯（正4.3）和瓦塞尔（正1.3）。
索汉在赛季开始时打控球后卫，在12月份回到了他传统的大前锋位置。当琼斯接管控球后卫的位置后，这两个人的净效率为正4.0，而从12月6日索汉的唯一一次替补上场开始，他们的净效率为正1.6。
瓦塞尔本赛季场均得分达到职业生涯最高的19.5分。他将在2024-25赛季开始执行一份为期五年的1.46亿美元的续约合同。他觉得他和文班亚马在整个赛季的二人配合中取得了很大进步。
展望未来，他说他将继续与文班亚马一起努力，并相信球队管理层会做好其他事情。
“他们帮助我发展了很多，我知道他们有一个团队计划，”瓦塞尔说。“我知道我们想赢球，我们想重回冠军球队。所以我相信他们，我相信这个组织，我准备好迎接一切。”
赖特表示，尽管球队在赛季末展现出进步，但这并不能决定今夏会发生什么。
“所以有两个极端，一个是保持阵容不变，因为你看到了进步，而另一个是‘嘿，我们只赢了X场比赛，所以我们需要改变一切’，”赖特说。
“现实情况是，你的答案介于两者之间。我认为，我们还是会查看某些指标和信息，尽量做到客观，以确定哪些举措对现在来说是最合理的。”
马刺队今夏是否会开始冲刺，目前还不得而知。如果他们等到明年夏天，他们的薪资空间可能接近5000万美元。明年夏天，球队将拥有自己的首轮选秀权、来自亚特兰大老鹰队的无保护选秀权、来自芝加哥公牛队的十强保护选秀权以及来自夏洛特黄蜂队的乐透保护首轮选秀权。放弃这些选秀权将为2025-26赛季腾出一些薪资空间，或者让球队能够进行更大的交易。
“我认为，如果我们坚持自己的做法，在现有基础上，不仅要建立在已经取得的进展之上，还要建立在已经建立的基石之上，这些事情就会自然而然地得到解决，”赖特说。“球员本身将会推动这一切，阵容将会推动这一切。
“我认为你不能做出这样的决定，‘哇，西部太难了。你必须比0.500高出10场比赛才能打附加赛，然后说，‘好吧，我们再等几年吧’。”
“我认为你必须不断地建立它，让它自然地成长。”
点击查看原文：How Victor Wembayama can turn San Antonio into a free agent destination
How Victor Wembayama can turn San Antonio into a free agent destination
Andrew Lopez, ESPNJun 13, 2024, 08:00 AM ET
VICTOR WEMBANYAMA’S FIRST season in San Antonio surpassed internal expectations but also fell short of delivering wins.
While many believed Wembanyama would be a force on the defensive end right away, not many believed he would accomplish what he did on the offensive end.
The No. 1 pick in last year’s draft averaged 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists and a league-leading 3.6 blocks. The only other player in NBA history to hit those marks in a single season is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and he won MVP in both seasons that he accomplished the feat.
Wembanyama became the second rookie (joining Manute Bol) to lead the league in blocks and finished second in the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year voting. He became the first rookie in NBA history to make the All-Defensive first team. He was the unanimous Rookie of the Year.
He finished with two triple-doubles, one with blocks and one with assists. Wembanyama did all of this while hitting 128 3-pointers – fourth among rookies.
While Wembanyama experienced individual success, the team’s success did not follow.
San Antonio started the season winning three of its first five games, including a pair in Phoenix. But being the league’s youngest team caught up with the Spurs and their season was progressively riddled with losing streaks. The Spurs needed to win seven of their final 11 regular-season games just to finish with the same 22-60 record they had the year before.
The organization knew the team wouldn’t become an instant success with Wembanyama but hoped to at least finish with a better record than last season.
There is optimism in the offseason largely centered around what Wembanyama can do on both ends of the floor after his outstanding first season. The Spurs have the Nos. 4 and 8 picks in the upcoming draft along with a pair of second-round selections and tradable contracts that could create as much as $19.5 million in cap space if they waive Devonte’ Graham and Charles Bassey.
Historically, the Spurs have never chased big-name free agents, but they plan to eventually rely on Wembanyama to attract players to San Antonio. For now, it’s on the Spurs’ front office to figure out how it will build around its big man.
“We’ve always said this, our runway is not just next season, your runway is next season and beyond,” Spurs general manager Brian Wright said at the end of the season. "So how do you make the appropriate moves to set yourself up for growth and improvement in the best way possible, but also maintain the longevity?
“It’s a brick-by-brick thing that we have to do here.”
EVEN DURING THEIR dynasty years, the Spurs were never a true free agent destination.
They were able to lure LaMarcus Aldridge in 2015 and a 36-year-old Pau Gasol coming off an All-Star season with the Chicago Bulls the following summer to San Antonio. But traditionally, the Spurs develop their own talent and sign lower-tier free agents – such as Bruce Bowen, Patty Mills, Avery Johnson and Danny Green – who shine in the Texas heat.
Bowen had made one All-Defensive team in 2001 before the Spurs acquired him. Mills had two underwhelming years in Portland before finding his footing in San Antonio. Johnson was signed and waived before finding his way back in 1994 and turning into a starting point guard on the 1999 title team. Green played 20 games with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2009-10 before getting a chance in San Antonio.
Tim Duncan and David Robinson – like Wembanyama – were No. 1 picks. Tony Parker was picked No. 28 in 2001. The Spurs selected Manu Ginobili with the No. 57 selection in the 1999 NBA draft before joining the Spurs in 2002.
Still, the Spurs could become a destination for players who want to play with the one-of-a-kind superstar. Wembanyama recently said on a Ringer podcast that other players, including prospects, have already reached out to him, saying they would like to team up.
One veteran NBA player told ESPN that he believes other vets will take less money to play with Wembanyama because he could increase their chances of winning. Other vets have talked all season about how special of a player Wembanyama is.
Wright said the Spurs’ front office plans to use Wembanyama’s presence as a long-term recruiting tool.
“You would think over time, yeah, it would help us,” Wright said. “There’s a lot of things, obviously [Gregg Popovich] has been here for a long time and who he is as a leader and a coach. This whole roster growing and developing. That’s our hope and what we’re doing organizationally, business and beyond.”
Throughout the season, Popovich talked about not skipping steps. It’s something Wembanyama understands well.
“This is how it’s been my whole life, having to be patient,” Wembanyama told ESPN. “Be patient, but not always, you know. Nothing is going to stop us from pursuing it as hard as we can even though we can’t do it today. One day it’s going to pay off, all of these efforts.”
Despite the losing this past season, which included a franchise record 18-game skid, Wembanyama and his teammates managed to stay upbeat.
Popovich credited his players for sticking together.
“There were no letdowns or backbiting or blame or poor me or anything like that,” Popovich said at the end of the season. "They were dealt with tough circumstances, a couple they couldn’t handle or have any control over being young and never having played together, but it was difficult for them with spotty injuries and that kind of thing, but it’s like it never happened.
“Every practice, every shootaround, every game, no matter what happened, they were ready for the next day. And that really is a testament to their character. I really am impressed by that and grateful for it because it could have been a really ugly time losing and being on buses and planes and all that, but we ate together. We spent time together and they were special.”
AS THE SEASON progressed, so did the Spurs.
After the All-Star break, the Spurs had a 111.8 defensive rating which was 12th-best in the league during that stretch. Prior to the break, San Antonio’s defensive rating was 117.5, No. 23 in the league.
After experimenting with the best fits around Wembanyama, the Spurs found their preferred starting group in the second half of the season – Wembanyama, Tre Jones, Devin Vassell, Julian Champagnie and Jeremy Sochan – which finished with a plus-3.3 net rating in 404 minutes.
That group finished with a 117.4 offensive and a 96.6 defensive rating in 142 minutes with Keldon Johnson in place of Champagnie.
Of the two-man lineups that played consistent minutes with Wembanyama, the only two that finished with a positive net rating for the season were Jones (plus-4.3) and Vassell (plus-1.3).
Sochan started the season at point guard and moved to his traditional power forward spot in December. Once Jones took over at point guard those two had a plus-4.0 net rating and were plus-1.6 going back to Sochan’s only benching on Dec. 6.
Vassell finished the season averaging a career-best 19.5 points per game. He’ll begin the first year of a five-year, $146 million extension in 2024-25. He felt like he and Wembanyama made a lot of progress as the two worked on their two-man game throughout the season.
Moving forward, he says he’ll continue to put in the work with Wembanyama and has faith in the organization to do the rest.
“They’ve helped me develop so much and I know that they have a plan for the team,” Vassell said. “I know we want to win, we want to get back to being a championship team. So I know I trust them, I trust this organization and I’m ready for whatever comes with it.”
But even though the team showed progress toward the end of the season, it won’t dictate what happens this summer, Wright said.
“So there’s two ends of the spectrum, so it’s run it back because you saw progress and don’t change anything and it’s, 'Hey, we’ve only won X number of games so we need to change everything,” Wright said.
“The reality is your answer is somewhere in-between. I think again, there’s certain metrics and things that we look at trying to be as objective as possible to figure out what moves make the right sense for right now.”
Whether or not the Spurs start to make a push this summer remains unknown. If they wait until next summer, they could have closer to $50 million in cap space available. Next summer, the team has its own first-round selection, an unprotected pick from the Atlanta Hawks, a top-10 protected pick from the Chicago Bulls and a lottery-protected first from the Charlotte Hornets at its disposal. Clearing those picks would free some cap space for 2025-26 or allow the team to make a bigger swing.
“I think if we stay true to what we do and we build on not only the progress we’ve seen but the established foundation that’s here, those things start to take care of themselves,” Wright said. "And the players themselves will drive that and the roster will drive that.
"I don’t think you can make the decision like, 'Whoa, the West is really tough. You got to be 10 games above .500 to make the play-in and be like, well, ‘Let’s just hold off for a couple more years.’
“I think you got to just keep building it and allow it to organically grow.”
via ESPN