By Tom Orsborn, Staff writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2024-12-13 14:41:58
由生成式 AI 翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
2024年11月13日星期三，在圣安东尼奥举行的NBA篮球比赛下半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫克里斯·保罗（左二）与马刺队前锋维克托·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)（1号）交流。圣安东尼奥以139-130获胜。
俄勒冈州波特兰 – 维克托·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)公开表示，他非常欣赏克里斯·保罗(Chris Paul)在与队友沟通时坦诚相待的态度。
周日，39岁的控球后卫保罗在NBA生涯助攻数超越贾森·基德(Jason Kidd)，升至历史第二位后，在更衣室发表了一番讲话。当被问及保罗直言不讳的沟通方式时，这位马刺队的 中锋 文班亚马表示了赞同。
“我知道有时候我很难相处，”保罗在感谢马刺队在战胜新奥尔良鹈鹕队后送给他的礼物时，动情地重复了两遍这句话。
文班亚马否认了这一说法。
这位20岁的法国球员表示，虽然保罗确实会非常直率，但马刺队的球员们明白他的出发点总是好的，并且感激他对他们的关心。
当被问及如何理解保罗所说的“难以相处”时，文班亚马说：“他的意思是说话不加修饰，非常直截了当，但总是出于好意。我从未见过他在背后说别人坏话，但他会当面说出他认为我们需要为球队做得更好的地方。我确信有些人可能难以接受这种方式。但幸运的是，我们都被这支球队，被波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)教练磨练得足够谦逊，所以我们知道如何坦然接受直言不讳的意见。”
自11月2日在一场比赛前突发轻微中风以来，波波维奇教练一直没有随队，助理教练米奇·约翰逊(Mitch Johnson)代理主教练一职。但球队仍然坚持着波波维奇的指导原则之一：谦逊。
这位名人堂教练曾说过：“这不是关乎任何个人的事，你必须放下自我，明白需要团队合作才能完成目标。”
与波波维奇一样，保罗也相信应该抛开个人 ego，去做对球队最有利的事情，即使这意味着会伤害一些人的感情。
“这是生意，这是一份工作，”他在本赛季早些时候曾表示，“一切都与沟通有关。每个人都在努力变得更好。”
保罗直截了当的风格完全符合波波维奇的传统。这位NBA历史上胜场最多的教练以在所有事情上都对球员坦诚相待而闻名。
波波维奇曾说过：“我一直相信，球员对真相的反应比对虚伪的吹捧或试图操纵他们要好得多。”
文班亚马并不是唯一一个欢迎保罗直言不讳的建设性批评的马刺球员。
德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥 - 12月8日：2024年12月8日，在德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥的弗罗斯特银行中心，圣安东尼奥马刺队的克里斯·保罗（3号）在上半场助攻数超越贾森·基德后，接受了圣安东尼奥马刺队的维克托·文班亚马（1号）的祝贺。
“如果你真的用心倾听他所说的内容，而不是他说话的语气，那么你就能理解他的意思，”新秀斯蒂芬·卡斯尔(Stephon Castle)说道。
在称赞这位即将进入名人堂的控球后卫时，卡斯尔提到了保罗谦逊的举止。在周五晚上对阵开拓者队的比赛前，保罗场均可以得到10.2分、4.0个篮板、全队最高的8.5次助攻和全队最高的1.4次抢断。
“他非常无私，而且他在场上就像我们的教练一样，所以你可以就任何事情向他请教，”卡斯尔说，“你也可以和他谈论篮球之外的事情。”
杰里米·索汉(Jeremy Sochan)说：“你可以像和普通人一样和他交谈，这很酷。因为一旦你像他一样获得了如此多的荣誉，你可能会认为自己是最好的。但他很普通。”
正如德文·瓦塞尔(Devin Vassell)所说，保罗是一个“总是在我耳边”提供指导的普通人。
这位前锋说：“他总是那么专注。他总是在看比赛或在某个地方看录像。他是一个篮球天才。”
保罗对学习的热情也感染了他的队友们。
查尔斯·巴斯(Charles Bassey)说：“今年我看了很多NBA比赛，比过去多，都是因为他。这有助于我了解我在下一场比赛中要做什么，我要对位谁，我要防守谁。”
无论保罗采取何种方式，他的队友们都知道他只是想让他们变得更好。
索汉说：“这都是出于好意，他只是希望我们能够做到最好。”
桑德罗·马穆克拉什维利(Sandro Mamukelashvili)说：“他总是那么鼓舞人心。他是一位领袖。他已经在这个联盟效力了20年。他能洞察到细微之处。我觉得我个人从他那里学到了很多知识。如果你投丢了，他永远不会打击你的自信心。他会继续鼓励你投篮。但他也会告诉你，他认为你的投篮热点在哪里，以及你应该如何接球。”
“他就像一个球员兼教练。拥有他是一个巨大的优势。”
马刺队周五晚上人员短缺
卡斯尔在周三的训练后表示乐观，认为他左肩的瘀伤不会迫使他错过周五的比赛。
这位年度最佳新秀的候选人说：“还是有点疼，但我已经可以投篮和其他所有动作了，所以这并不是什么大问题。”
尽管卡斯尔愿意咬牙坚持，但马刺队还是决定谨慎行事，本赛季首次将他排除在比赛名单之外。在已经进行的24场比赛中，卡斯尔全部首发，场均得到12.1分和3.8次助攻。
扎克·科林斯(Zach Collins)（腰部挫伤）、凯尔登·约翰逊(Keldon Johnson)（左小腿拉伤）和特雷·琼斯(Tre Jones)（左肩扭伤）也被排除在比赛名单之外，这让马刺队在波特兰只有11名健康的球员。
卡斯尔、科林斯和约翰逊在周日以121-116战胜新奥尔良鹈鹕队的比赛中受伤。琼斯自11月4日以来一直缺阵。
这也是科林斯本赛季第一次缺席比赛。约翰逊参加了马刺队24场比赛中的23场。
朱利安·尚帕尼(Julian Champagnie)以及马刺队的两位30多岁的首发球员，保罗和哈里森·巴恩斯(Harrison Barnes)，是球队中仅有的本赛季至今参加了所有比赛的球员。
考虑到伤病的性质以及前往波特兰的长途飞行，科林斯和约翰逊没有随队前往波特兰。所有受伤球员在周日主场迎战明尼苏达森林狼队的比赛中的状态尚不确定。
点击查看原文：Wembanyama fan of Chris Paul keeping it real
Wembanyama fan of Chris Paul keeping it real
San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul, second from left, speaks with Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the second half of their NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in San Antonio. San Antonio won 139-130.
PORTLAND, Oregon – Count Victor Wembanyama as a fan of Chris Paul’s desire to keep it real when communicating with his teammates.
The Spurs center gave his stamp of approval to Paul’s unvarnished approach to getting his messages across when asked about the 39-year-old point guard’s locker room speech Sunday after he moved past Jason Kidd into second place for NBA career assists.
“I know I am hard to deal with sometimes,” an emotional Paul said twice while thanking the Spurs for gifts they gave him following the win over New Orleans.
Wembanyama shot down that notion.
While it’s true Paul can be brutally honest, the Spurs understand his heart is always in the right place and they appreciate how much he cares about them, the 20-year-old Frenchman said.
“He meant not saying things with a filter,” Wembanyama said when asked to explain Paul’s “hard to deal” with quote.
“Just very straightforward but always with a good intent. I’ve never seen him talk about another guy (behind his) back, but he’ll say things up front about what he thinks we need to do to better the team. I’m sure it can be hard for some people to deal with it. But luckily we’ve all been humbled by the organization, by Pop (Gregg Popovich), so we know how to take things straightforward.”
Popovich has been away from the team since suffering what the club called a mild stroke before a game on Nov. 2, leaving assistant coach Mitch Johnson in charge. But the team continues to adhere to one of Popovich’s guiding principles: humility.
“It’s not about any one person," the Hall of Fame coach once said. "You’ve got to get over yourself and realize that it takes a group to get this thing done.”
Like Popovich, Paul believes in putting one’s ego aside and doing what is best for the team even if it means hurt feelings.
“It is business, it’s a job,” he said earlier this season. “Everything is about communication. Everybody’s always trying to get better.”
Paul’s straight-forward style is firmly in the Popovich tradition. The NBA’s all-time winningest coach is known for always being upfront with his players on all matters.
“I’ve always been a believer that players react better to the truth than blowing smoke at them or trying to manipulate them," Popovich once said.
Wembanyama isn’t the only Spur who welcomes Paul’s tell-it-like-it-is constructive criticism.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - DECEMBER 8: Chris Paul #3 of the San Antonio Spurs is congratulated by Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs after his assist passes Jason Kidd in assist in the first half at Frost Bank Center on December 8, 2024 in San Antonio, Texas.
“If you really just listen to what he’s saying and sometimes not the tone he’s saying it, then you’ll get the message,” rookie Stephon Castle said.
In praising the future Hall of Fame point guard, who entered Friday night’s game against the Trail Blazers averaging 10.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, a team-high 8.5 assists and a team-best 1.4 steals, Castle cited Paul’s unpretentious demeanor.
“He’s super selfless and he’s also a coach on the floor for us, so you can go to him about anything,” Castle said. “But you can also come to him about stuff outside of basketball.”
Said Jeremy Sochan, “You can talk to him like a normal guy, and that’s the cool thing. Because once you get so many accolades like he has, you could think you’re the best. But he’s normal.”
A normal guy who, as Devin Vassell put it, is “always in my ear” offering pointers.
“He’s always so locked in,” the forward said. “He’s always got a game on or is watching film somewhere. He’s a basketball genius.”
Paul’s passion for learning has rubbed off on his teammates.
“I’ve been watching a lot of NBA games this year, more than I did in the past, because of him,” Charles Bassey said. “It helps me know what I’m going to do in the next game, who I’m playing, who I’m guarding.”
No matter how he goes about it, Paul’s teammates know he just wants to make them better.
“It’s all coming from good intentions,” Sochan said. “He just wants us to be the best we can be.”
Said Sandro Mamukelashvili, ""He is always so encouraging. He is a leader. He has been in this league for 20 years. He reads the little stuff. I feel like me personally I am gaining a lot of knowledge from him. He is the guy who is never going to take your confidence away if you miss. He is going to still tell you to shoot. But he is also going to tell you what he thinks your good spots are and where you need to get to the ball.
“He is like a player coach. Having him is a great advantage.”
Spurs shorthanded Friday night
Castle expressed optimism after practice Wednesday that his bruised left shoulder would not force him to miss Friday’s game.
“It’s still a little sore, but I’ve been able to shoot and everything, so it’s not really too much of a problem,” the rookie of the year candidate said.
Despite his willingness to grit it out, the Spurs decided to play it safe, ruling Castle out for the first time this season. Through 24 games, all of which he started, Castle averaged 12.1 points and 3.8 assists.
Zach Collins (bruised lower back), Keldon Johnson (left calf strain) and Tre Jones (sprained left shoulder) were also ruled out, leaving the Spurs with just 11 healthy players in Portland.
Castle, Collins and Johnson suffered their injuries in Sunday’s 121-116 win over New Orleans. Jones has been out since Nov. 4.
It’s also the first time this season that Collins has missed a game. Johnson has played in 23 of the Spurs’ 24 contests.
Julian Champagnie and the Spurs’ two 30-something starters, Paul and Harrison Barnes, are the only players on the team who have played in every game this season.
Given the nature of their injuries and the long flight to Portland, Collins and Johnson did not make the trip to Portland. The status of all the injured players for Sunday’s home game against Minnesota is uncertain.
By Tom Orsborn, Staff writer, via San Antonio Express-News