By Jeff McDonald, Staff writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2024-10-19 04:00:14
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。
2024年4月7日，德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥市：在弗罗斯特银行中心的比赛上半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队的维克托·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama) 1号球员在对阵费城76人队的比赛中扣篮。
哈里森·巴恩斯(Harrison Barnes)现在可以承认了，那一刻，他看呆了。
然后发生了一件有趣的事。
文班亚马并没有像人们预料的那样直冲篮筐，用一记势大力沉的扣篮来迎接巴恩斯的到来，而是在三分线外戛然而止。
“我当时觉得自己的位置很好，”巴恩斯说，“我想，‘好吧，我就正常地封堵他。’结果他的第二只脚没有落下来。”
身高7英尺3英寸的文班亚马是马刺队的全能球员，即将迎来他的第二个NBA赛季。他单脚起跳，轻松写意地投出一记三分球，篮球应声入网。
欢迎来到圣安东尼奥，巴恩斯先生。
“他还没投丢过，”巴恩斯说，“所以我不知道他是不是练过，或者他只是做起来很舒服。”
32岁的巴恩斯是一位征战多年的老将，在他12年的NBA生涯中，他自认为已经见过了一切，但从未见过这样的事情，尤其是一个像文班亚马这样身材的球员。
对于当天在场的其他马刺球员来说，这只是文班日常操作的又一个例子。
在文班亚马的处子赛季中，这位非凡的法国球员每晚都在创造着精彩集锦和华丽数据，最终以压倒性的优势毫无悬念地获得了年度最佳新秀奖。
然而，马刺队却没有收获胜利。
尽管文班亚马场均得到21分、10.6个篮板和联盟领先的3.6次盖帽，打出了联盟历史上最伟大的新秀赛季之一，但马刺队仍然步履蹒跚，只取得了22胜60负的战绩。
这与文班亚马以状元秀身份加盟之前那个赛季马刺队的战绩完全相同。
2024年4月9日，田纳西州孟菲斯市：在联邦快递广场举行的下半场对阵孟菲斯灰熊队的比赛中，圣安东尼奥马刺队的维克托·文班亚马1号球员在下半场扣篮。
在文班亚马一次又一次的精彩扣篮之间，马刺队的情况有多糟糕？从11月初到12月中旬，马刺队一度遭遇了18连败，创造了球队历史纪录。
当被问及文班亚马的第二个赛季（周四在达拉斯开始）马刺队会有什么不同时，主教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)给出了一个既轻率又诚实的答案。
“也许会赢球？”波波维奇说，“这应该是个不错的想法。”
同样，当20岁的文班亚马谈到他对第二个赛季的目标时，首先想到的并不是个人数据。
“一个成功的赛季将是我们在新赛季不再浪费时间犯去年犯过的错误，”文班亚马说。
马刺队在休赛期进行了一些调整，旨在在短期内变得更具竞争力。
他们签下了39岁的克里斯·保罗(Chris Paul)，这位12届全明星球员将以一份一年1050万美元的合同帮助稳定控球后卫的位置。他们通过与萨克拉门托国王队的交易得到了巴恩斯。他们在6月的选秀大会上用第四顺位选中了19岁的康涅狄格大学后卫斯蒂芬·卡斯尔(Stephon Castle)，他是大东联盟的年度最佳新人。
这些新面孔是否足以推动马刺队争夺西部附加赛资格还有待观察。在上赛季残酷的西部竞争中，马刺队落后排名第十的金州勇士队24个胜场，无缘附加赛。
但这并没有阻止马刺队设定高目标。
“季后赛，”后卫德文·瓦塞尔(Devin Vassell)在被问及他对本赛季的期望时说，“就是这样。这就是我所看到的全部。”
如果马刺队想要在经历了球队历史上最长的五年季后赛荒之后，哪怕只是稍微靠近季后赛，那么球队中的这位“外星人”就需要更加出色才行。
文班或许真的能做到。
NBA的总经理们无疑都是文班的粉丝，他们对这位马刺队的超级巨星的喜爱就像20世纪60年代的青少年对披头士乐队的狂热一样。
本月早些时候，联盟对所有30位总经理进行了一年一度的调查，提出了这样一个问题：如果你今天要组建一支球队，并且可以选择签下NBA中的任何一名球员，你会选择谁？
文班亚马以77%的得票率高居榜首。遥遥领先的第二名是俄克拉荷马雷霆队的谢伊·吉尔杰斯-亚历山大(Shai Gilgeous-Alexander)和丹佛掘金队的三届联盟最有价值球员尼古拉·约基奇(Nikola Jokic)的并列，他们各获得10%的选票。
“我认为他比赛的每一步都在进步，这有点可怕，”瓦塞尔在谈到文班亚马时说，“今年对联盟来说将是可怕的一年，我可以告诉你。”
这对NBA其他球队来说确实是一个令人不安的想法。
现在文班亚马已经经历了一个完整的NBA赛季，他将在即将到来的赛季中成为一股更加强大的破坏力。
“去年我们基本上是从零开始的，尤其是对我来说，”文班亚马说，“我从来没有在NBA打过球，我不知道自己在做什么。现在我有了这个基础，我觉得我可以帮助我的队友。我也可以帮助他们帮助我。”
如果文班亚马在本赛季冲击最佳阵容的荣誉，这将不会令人感到意外。在上赛季的最佳防守球员评选中，文班亚马仅次于明尼苏达森林狼队的鲁迪·戈贝尔(Rudy Gobert)获得第二名，他应该会在第二个赛季成为该奖项的最热门人选。
2024年2月23日，加利福尼亚州洛杉矶市：在加密货币网球中心的比赛下半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队的维克托·文班亚马1号球员封盖了洛杉矶湖人队的勒布朗·詹姆斯23号球员的投篮。
入选全明星阵容似乎是板上钉钉的事。
有一点似乎是可以肯定的：文班亚马的年度最佳新秀奖杯和他帮助法国队在去年巴黎奥运会上赢得的银牌，即将迎来一些闪闪发光的同伴。
“我希望我现在获得的所有奖杯都能成为砖块，在未来构建一些伟大的东西，”文班亚马说，“一块砖本身并不算什么，但当你把它们积累起来，你就能得到一座宫殿。”
欢迎来到文班亚马时代的第二年，在圣安东尼奥，不可能似乎变成了可能，不正常似乎变成了正常，令人惊叹的似乎变成了平凡，而建设仍在继续。
2024年8月10日，星期六，法国巴黎，在巴黎贝尔西体育馆举行的2024年夏季奥运会男子篮球金牌争夺战中，法国队的维克托·文班亚马(32号)在比赛中扣篮。(美联社照片/迈克尔·康罗伊)
2024年10月9日，星期三，在弗罗斯特银行中心举行的NBA季前赛对阵奥兰多魔术队的比赛上半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队中锋维克托·文班亚马扣篮。圣安东尼奥以107-97战胜奥兰多。
2024年4月7日，德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥市：在弗罗斯特银行中心举行的比赛上半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队的维克托·文班亚马1号球员封盖了费城76人队的KJ·马丁1号球员的投篮。
2024年4月2日，科罗拉多州丹佛市：在波尔体育馆举行的第四节比赛中，圣安东尼奥马刺队的维克托·文班亚马1号球员封盖了丹佛掘金队的雷吉·杰克逊7号球员的投篮。
2024年4月2日，科罗拉多州丹佛市：在波尔体育馆举行的第四节比赛中，圣安东尼奥马刺队的维克托·文班亚马1号球员封盖了丹佛掘金队的雷吉·杰克逊7号球员的投篮。
2024年3月27日，星期三，在盐湖城举行的NBA篮球比赛上半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队中锋维克托·文班亚马(右)封盖了犹他爵士队前锋劳里·马尔卡宁(左)的上篮。(美联社照片/里克·鲍默)
2024年3月22日，星期五，在德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥市的弗罗斯特银行中心举行的比赛下半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队中锋维克托·文班亚马(1号)封盖了孟菲斯灰熊队后卫斯科蒂·皮蓬二世(1号)的投篮。马刺队以99-97负于灰熊队。
2024年3月19日，星期二，在圣安东尼奥举行的一场NBA篮球比赛上半场，达拉斯独行侠队前锋P.J.·华盛顿(25号)的投篮被圣安东尼奥马刺队中锋维克托·文班亚马(1号)封盖。(美联社照片/埃里克·盖伊)
2024年3月17日，星期日，在德克萨斯州奥斯汀举行的一场NBA篮球比赛加时赛中，圣安东尼奥马刺队中锋维克托·文班亚马(1号)封盖了布鲁克林篮网队后卫丹尼斯·施罗德(17号)的投篮。(美联社照片/埃里克·盖伊)
2024年8月10日，星期六，在巴黎贝尔西体育馆举行的2024年夏季奥运会男子篮球金牌争夺战中，美国队的勒布朗·詹姆斯(6号)在法国队的维克托·文班亚马(32号)的防守下突破上篮。(美联社照片/丽贝卡·布莱克威尔)
2024年1月4日，星期四，在弗罗斯特银行中心举行的比赛的最后时刻，圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋维克多·文班亚马(左)封盖了密尔沃基雄鹿队前锋扬尼斯·阿德托昆博的投篮。密尔沃基以125-121战胜了马刺。
2024年1月4日，星期四，在弗罗斯特银行中心举行的比赛上半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋维克多·文班亚马(右)和密尔沃基雄鹿队前锋扬尼斯·阿德托昆博在雄鹿队后卫马乔恩·博尚(左)的争抢下争夺一个地板球。密尔沃基以125-121战胜了马刺。
点击查看原文：What to expect from Wemby's second season? More wins, awards.
What to expect from Wemby’s second season? More wins, awards.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 07: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs dunks against the Philadelphia 76ers in the first half at Frost Bank Center on April 7, 2024 in San Antonio, Texas.
Harrison Barnes can admit it now. He was mesmerized.
Then a funny thing happened.
Instead of streaking to the basket to welcome Barnes to town with a poster dunk, Wembanyama stopped short at the 3-point line.
“I thought I was in good position,” Barnes said. “I’m thinking, ‘OK, I will just close out normally.’ And his second foot didn’t come down.”
Wembanyama, the Spurs’ 7-foot-3 all-everything heading into his second NBA season, launched a casual 3-pointer off one leg that found nothing but net.
Welcome to San Antonio, Mr. Barnes.
“He hasn’t missed it yet,” Barnes said, “So I don’t know if he has practiced it or if he is just comfortable doing it.”
Barnes, a 32-year-old journeyman who thought he had seen everything in his 12 NBA seasons, had never seen anything like that – certainly not from a player built in the mold of Wembanyama.
To the other Spurs in the building that day, it was just another instance of Vic being Vic.
Throughout a maiden NBA season that culminated with Wembanyama running away with the Rookie of the Year award in unanimous fashion, the phenomenal Frenchman packed highlight reels and box scores nightly.
What the Spurs did not do was pack the win column.
With Wembanyama averaging 21 points, 10.6 rebounds and an NBA-leading 3.6 blocks in one of the top rookie season the league has seen, the Spurs nevertheless staggered to a 22-60 record.
It was a lackluster record identical to the one the Spurs mustered the season before Wembanyama landed here with the No. 1 pick.
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - APRIL 09: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs dunks during the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies during the second half at FedExForum on April 09, 2024 in Memphis, Tennessee.
How bad did it get between Wembanyama slam dunks? At one point between early November and mid-December, the Spurs lost 18 consecutive games, a franchise record.
Asked what might be different for the Spurs in Wembanyama’s second season – which opens Thursday at Dallas – coach Gregg Popovich gave an answer simulatenously glib and honest.
“Maybe winning?” Popovich said. “That wouldn’t be a bad idea.”
Likewise, when the 20-year-old Wembanyama talks about his goals for his sophomore go-round, individual numbers aren’t the first thing to come to mind.
“A successful year will be a year where we don’t lose time doing the same mistakes we did last year,” Wembanyama said.
The Spurs made a few moves over the offseason geared to becoming more competitive in the short term.
They signed 39-year-old Chris Paul, a 12-time All-Star, to a one-year, $10.5 million contract to help stabilize the point guard position. They brought in Barnes via trade from Sacramento. They spent the fourth pick in the June draft on 19-year-old Connecticut guard Stephon Castle, the Big East’s Freshman of the Year.
Whether those new faces are enough to nudge the Spurs into contention for the Western Conference play-in remains to be seen. In a brutal conference last season, the Spurs finished 24 games behind 10th-place Golden State for the West’s final play-in bid.
That has not stopped the Spurs from setting the bar high.
“Playoffs,” guard Devin Vassell said when asked his expectations for the season. “That’s it. That’s all I see.”
If the Spurs are going to so much as sniff the playoff race after a club-record five-year postseason drought, the team’s resident extraterrestrial will need to be extra special.
Wembanyama might just pull it off.
NBA general managers, for sure, are Wemby fans, having taken to the Spurs superstar like a 1960s teenager to Beatlemania.
The league’s annual survey of all 30 GMs, conducted earlier this month, posed this question: If you were starting a franchise today and could sign any player in the NBA, who would it be?
Wembanyama polled first at 77% of the vote. Distant second place was a tie between Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous Alexander and Denver’s Nikola Jokic, a three-time league MVP. They each pulled 10%.
“I think every step of his game is growing, and it’s kind of scary,” Vassell said of Wembanyama. “It’s going to be scary for the league this year, I can tell you that.”
It is a discomfiting thought indeed for the rest of the NBA.
Now that he has navigated an entire NBA season, Wembanyama should be poised to be an even more destructive force in the season to come.
“Last year we were starting from scratch basically, especially me,” Wembanyama said. “Never playing in the NBA, I had no idea what I was doing. Now that I have that basis, I feel like I can help my teammates. And I can help them help me.”
It would not be surprising for Wembanyama to flirt with All-NBA honors this season. Having finished a runner-up to Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert for the Defensive Player of the Year trophy last season, Wembanyama should enter his second campaign as the favorite for the award.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 23: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs blocks a shot by LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half of a game at Crypto.com Arena on February 23, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
An All-Star berth seems like a lock.
This much seems certain: Wembanyama’s Rookie of the Year trophy and the silver medal he helped win for Team France at the Paris Olympics last summer are about to have some glittery company.
“I want all of my trophies that I get right now to be bricks to build something great in the future,” Wembanyama said. “One brick by itself is not much, but you can get the palace when you accumulate them.”
Welcome to Year 2 of the Wembanyama era in San Antonio, where the impossible seems possible, the abnormal seems normal, the amazing seems mundane, and the construction continues.
Victor Wembanyama (32), of France dunks during a men’s gold medal basketball game at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama dunks a ball during the first half of their NBA preseason game with Orlando at the Frost Bank Center on Wednesday, Oct 9, 2024. San Antonio beat Orlando 107-97.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 07: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs blocks shot of KJ Martin #1 of the Philadelphia 76ers in the first half at Frost Bank Center on April 7, 2024 in San Antonio, Texas.
DENVER, COLORADO - APRIL 02: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs blocks a shot by Reggie Jackson #7 of the Denver Nuggets during the fourth quarter at Ball Arena on April 02, 2024 in Denver, Colorado.
DENVER, COLORADO - APRIL 02: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs blocks a shot by Reggie Jackson #7 of the Denver Nuggets during the fourth quarter at Ball Arena on April 02, 2024 in Denver, Colorado.
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama, right, blocks Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen, left, as he goes to the basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 27, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) blocks a shot from Memphis Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr. (1) during the second half at Frost Bank Center on Friday, March 22, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs fell to the Grizzles, 99-97.
Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington (25) has his shot blocked by San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 19, 2024, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) blocks a shot by Brooklyn Nets guard Dennis Schroder (17) during overtime of an NBA basketball game in Austin, Texas, Sunday, March 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
United States’ LeBron James (6) drives to the basket against Victor Wembanyama (32), of France during a men’s gold medal basketball game at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
San Antonio Spurs forward Victory Wembanyama, left, blocks a shot by Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo in the final minute of their game at the Frost Bank Center on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024. Milwaukee beat the Spurs 125-121.
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama, right, and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo fight for a loose ball with Bucks guard MarJon Beauchamp, left, during the first half of their game at the Frost Bank Center on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024. Milwaukee beat the Spurs 125-121.
By Jeff McDonald, Staff writer, via San Antonio Express-News