By Jeff McDonald, Staff Writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2024-10-23 12:55:31
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5月11日，星期六，维克托·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)在圣安东尼奥斯科比教育中心和天文馆举行的新闻发布会上，领取了他的2023-24赛季年度最佳新秀奖杯。
达拉斯——这是一个艰难的决定。马刺队主教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)这样回忆道。
球队管理层和教练组的每一位成员都围坐在会议桌旁，争论不休，唇枪舌剑，各抒己见，就赞成或反对的理由展开激烈辩论。
至少波波维奇是这样描述的，他的眼中闪烁着一丝狡黠。
“我们经过了深思熟虑，”波波维奇说，语气中或许带着一丝戏谑。“投票结果非常接近。”
当然，这只是一个玩笑。这一切都没有发生过。
当谈到是否在截止日期前提前执行文班亚马2025-26赛季价值1340万美元的球队选项时，马刺队本可以把这个显而易见的决定交给弗罗斯特银行中心的爆米花摊贩来做。
“最终，我们决定执行选项，”波波维奇说，语气中依然带着一丝调侃，“因为他似乎愿意去竞争，去打好比赛。”
然而，在文班亚马展望他的第三个NBA赛季之前，他必须首先 navigate 第二个赛季。
这一切将从周四在达拉斯开始，届时将进行一场与卢卡·东契奇(Luka Doncic)、凯里·欧文(Kyrie Irving)以及卫冕西部冠军独行侠队的全国直播比赛。
毫无压力。
这位20岁的年轻球员是去年的状元秀，他刚刚度过了一个非比寻常的新秀赛季。这位身高7英尺3英寸的中锋场均得到21.4分、10.6个篮板和联盟最高的3.6次盖帽，一路赢得了毫无悬念的年度最佳新秀奖，并入选了最佳防守阵容一阵。
文班亚马在新秀赛季的表现足以让勒布朗·詹姆斯(LeBron James)、斯蒂芬·库里(Stephen Curry)、凯文·杜兰特(Kevin Durant)以及即将成为他新队友的克里斯·保罗(Chris Paul)等NBA偶像印象深刻。
他还引起了美国前总统贝拉克·奥巴马(Barack Obama)的注意。奥巴马最近在“年轻人和三个火枪手”播客节目中对这位马刺队的法国球星赞不绝口。
“当他在场上时，你很难将目光从他身上移开，”奥巴马说。
很难想象文班亚马在第二个赛季会有什么样的表现。也许能一跃跳过美洲之塔？
当谈到对自己第二个赛季的个人目标时，这位马刺队最高的球员并没有妄自菲薄。
“更接近赢得总冠军，因为那是我们的目标，”文班亚马说。“我们总是希望达到新的高度。”
马刺队可以从赢得比22场更多的比赛开始，这是他们在文班亚马来之前和来之后那个赛季的总胜场数。
在上赛季文班亚马充满希望的新秀赛季开始时，马刺队的战绩是3胜2负，然后遭遇了球队历史上最长的18连败，战绩跌至3胜20负。
到元旦时，马刺队的战绩是难看的5胜27负。
在本赛季早些时候站稳脚跟已经成为球队明确的目标之一。
“良好的开局总是很重要的，”前锋杰里米·索汉(Jeremy Sochan)说。“但这要从这里开始，从录像分析开始，从我们在训练中的表现开始，全神贯注，而不是敷衍了事。”
为了帮助球队更加专注，马刺队引进了保罗，这位39岁控球后卫的职业生涯中曾12次入选全明星阵容。
作为上赛季联盟中最年轻的球队，马刺队经常显得缺乏方向感和经验——尤其是在比赛的关键时刻。
保罗和另一位经验丰富的新援哈里森·巴恩斯(Harrison Barnes)的目标是缓解这些问题。
保罗是一位享誉世界的任务大师，他即将迎来自己的第20个NBA赛季，除了希望马刺队每天都能比前一天做得更好之外，他没有其他的期望。
“我们能掌控这一切，”这位联盟现役助攻王说。“我一直在告诉一些球员，我们可能会在第一场比赛中大比分获胜，也可能会大比分失利。这是一个漫长的赛季。你永远不能过于兴奋或沮丧。”
上赛季效力于金州勇士队的保罗，很快就对他的许多新队友印象深刻。
其中有一位尤其突出。很容易猜到是谁。
“每次我谈到维克，我都会说他有多么聪明，多么勤奋，”保罗说。“他是现在的他，这是有道理的。”
文班亚马职业生涯的首场比赛也是对阵达拉斯。
在那场在弗罗斯特银行中心进行的比赛中，他在与犯规的斗争中9投5中得到15分和5个篮板，但马刺队最终以119比126输掉了比赛。
到赛季结束时，文班亚马已经在圣安东尼奥的电视上观看了在达拉斯举行的NBA总决赛。
是的，文班亚马说，与他的第一个赛季相比，他在第二个赛季开始时感觉有所不同。马刺队现在更了解自己了。
文班亚马也更了解自己了。
“我看待比赛的方式大不相同，”他说。“我认为我在场上可以做更多的事情，其中很大一部分是心理上的。你必须知道如何打击对手的痛处。”
一位正在成长、崭露头角的超级巨星，距离他的巅峰还有很多年？这样的球员值得再留一年。
文班亚马旅程的下一步将于周四在达拉斯开始。整个NBA世界都在期待他的再次亮相。
马刺队球星维克托·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)手持他的2023-24赛季NBA年度最佳新秀奖杯。
2024年10月9日，星期三，圣安东尼奥马刺队主教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)在弗罗斯特银行中心与奥兰多魔术队的NBA季前赛上半场与后卫克里斯·保罗(Chris Paul，3号)和中锋维克托·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama，1号)交谈。圣安东尼奥以107比97战胜了奥兰多。
2024年3月19日，星期二，在圣安东尼奥举行的NBA篮球比赛中，圣安东尼奥马刺队主教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)（左）在上半场与中锋维克托·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)交谈。对手是达拉斯独行侠队。(美联社照片/埃里克·盖伊)
德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥市 - 3月17日，2024年3月17日，在德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥市的穆迪中心，圣安东尼奥马刺队的维克托·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)（1号）和主教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)在与布鲁克林篮网队的比赛前交谈。
2024年3月5日，星期二，在休斯顿举行的NBA篮球比赛中，圣安东尼奥马刺队主教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)（左）在上半场与维克托·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)在板凳席上交谈。对手是休斯顿火箭队。(美联社照片/大卫·j·菲利普)
德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥市 - 3月12日：2024年3月12日，在德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥市的弗罗斯特银行中心，圣安东尼奥马刺队的维克托·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)（1号）在上半场与休斯顿火箭队的比赛中听取了圣安东尼奥马刺队主教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)的讲话。
2023年10月9日，星期一，在俄克拉荷马城举行的一场NBA篮球季前赛上半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队中锋维克托·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)（1号）在俄克拉荷马雷霆队后卫凯森·华莱士(Cason Wallace)（22号）面前投篮得分后庆祝。(美联社照片/莎拉·菲普斯)
2024年2月29日，星期四，在弗罗斯特银行中心与俄克拉荷马雷霆队的NBA比赛结束后，圣安东尼奥马刺队中锋维克托·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)在马刺队播音员扎伊·扎伊·阿基诺(Zay Zay Aquino)旁边向观众致意。圣安东尼奥以132比118战胜了俄克拉荷马城。
点击查看原文：Victor Wembanyama's second act set to take the stage
Victor Wembanyama’s second act set to take the stage
Victor Wembanyama speaks at a press conference after receiving his 2023-24 Rookie of the Year trophy at Scobee Education Center & Planetarium on Saturday, May 11, 2024 in San Antonio.
DALLAS – The decision was a tough one. That’s how Spurs coach Gregg Popovich recalls it.
Every member of the team’s front office and coaching staff gathered around some kind of conference table, debating and haranguing and pros-and-conning, each making a different, compelling case for or against.
At least that’s how Popovich tells the story, with a glint in his eye.
“We thought long and hard,” Popovich said, perhaps not totally sincerely. “It was a close vote.”
And that, of course, is the joke of all jokes. None of that happened at all.
When it came to the question of whether to pick up Wembanyama’s $13.4-million option for the 2025-26 season in advance of this month’s deadline, the Spurs could have left the obvious choice up to the Frost Bank Center popcorn vendor.
“In the end, we decided to do it,” Popovich said, tongue still in cheek, “because he seems willing to compete and play well.”
Before Wembanyama can fast forward to his third NBA season, however, he must first navigate his second one.
That begins Thursday in Dallas, with a nationally televised game against Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and the defending Western Conference champion Mavericks.
No pressure there.
The 20-year-old Wembanyama, last year’s No. 1 overall draft pick, is coming off the rookie season to end all rookie seasons. The 7-foot-3 center averaged 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds and a league-high 3.6 blocks en route to winning a unanimous Rookie of the Year award in addition to being named first-team All-Defense.
Wembanyama’s rookie-season exploits were enough to impress NBA icons like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and soon-to-be new teammate Chris Paul.
He also caught the attention of former president Barack Obama, who waxed poetic about the Spurs’ star Frenchman on a recent episode of “The Young Man and the Three” podcast.
“It’s hard to take your eyes off him when he’s on the court,” Obama said.
It is difficult to imagine what Wembanyama might do for a second act. Maybe leap the Tower of Americas in a single bound?
When it comes to personal aspirations for his sophomore season, the Spurs’ tallest player does not sell himself short.
“Getting closer to winning a championship, because that is the goal,” Wembanyama said. “We always want to reach new levels of performance.”
The Spurs can start by winning more than 22 games, their total in the season both before and after Wembanyama’s arrival.
The club started Wembanyama’s promising rookie season at 3-2, then lost a franchise record 18 games in a row to drop to 3-20.
By New Year’s Day, the Spurs’ record stood at an unsightly 5-27.
Finding a foothold earlier this season has become one of the team’s stated goals.
“It’s always important to get off to a good start,” forward Jeremy Sochan said. “It starts here, though, in the film sessions, what we do in practice, locking in and not going through the motions.”
To aid in the pursuit of locking in, the Spurs added Paul, a 39-year-old point guard with 12 All-Star appearances on his resume.
Owners of the league’s youngest roster last season, the Spurs often looked rudderless and inexperienced – especially during the crunch time of games.
Paul and fellow veteran newcomer Harrison Barnes aim to alleviate those issues.
A world-renowned taskmaster, Paul enters his 20th NBA season with zero expectations except for the Spurs to strive to be better tomorrow than they were yesterday.
“We’re in control of that,” said Paul, the league’s active leader in career assists. “I was telling some of the guys, we could come out and win our first game by a lot or lose it by a lot. It’s a long season. You can never get too high or too low.”
Paul, who played last season with Golden State, has become quickly impressed with many of his new teammates.
One in particular has stood out. It is an easy guess who.
“Every time I talk about Vic, I just talk about how intelligent he is, how smart he is, how hard he works,” Paul said. “It makes sense he is the way he is.”
Wembanyama opened what should be a decorated NBA career last season against Dallas, too.
He scored 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting and grabbed five rebounds while battling foul trouble in a 126-119 loss at the Frost Bank Center.
By the season’s end, Wembanyama was watching on TV back in San Antonio as the NBA Finals went through Dallas.
Yes, Wembanyama said, there is a different feeling heading into his second opening night compared to his first. The Spurs know a bit better who they are now.
Wembanyama knows himself better, too.
“I see the game much differently,” he said. “I think there is a lot more I can do on the court, and a big part of it is mental. You have to know how to press where it hurts your opponent.”
A growing, budding superstar still years away from his prime? That sounds like a player worth keeping around for another year.
The next step in Wembanyama’s journey begins Thursday in Dallas. The NBA world will be watching for his encore.
Spurs star Victor Wembanyama with his 2023-24 NBA Rookie of the Year trophy.
San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich talks to guard Chris Paul (3) and center Victor Wembanyama (1) 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 Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, left, talks with center Victor Wembanyama during the first half of the team’s NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks in San Antonio, Tuesday, March 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
SAN ANTONIO, TX - MARCH 17 Victor Wembanyama #1 and head coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs talk before a game against the Brooklyn Nets at Moody Center on March 17, 2024 in San Antonio, Texas.
San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, left, talks with Victor Wembanyama on the bench during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
SAN ANTONIO, TX - MARCH 12: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs listens to Gregg Popovich head coach of the San Antonio Spurs during game against the Houston Rockets in the first half at Frost Bank Center on March 12, 2024 in San Antonio, Texas.
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) celebrates after a basket in front of Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace (22) in the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Sarah Phipps)
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama addresses the crowd next to Spurs announcer Zay Zay Aquino at the conclusion of their NBA game with the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Frost Bank Center on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. San Antonio beat Oklahoma City 132-118.
By Jeff McDonald, Staff Writer, via San Antonio Express-News