Wemby Mania with Ben Golliver | Raptors Show
E RAPTORS SHOW ON THE SPORTSNET RADIO NETWORK. I’M YOUR HOST WILL LOU. CONTINUED TO BE JOINED BY BLAKE MURPHY MY COHOST AND WE HAVE ON THE LINE BEN OLIVER OF THE “WASHINGTON POST”. IT’S TIME TO TALK WEMBY. WHAT’S UP IS GOING ON, BEN? >> Ken: NOT TOO MUCH, GUYS. JUST IN THE AFTERGLOW HERE OF PHOENIX. INCREDIBLE PERFORMANCE FROM WEMBANYAMA. 38-AND-2. MADE IT LOOK EASY. DOMINATED DOWN THE STRETCH. BY THE WAY, IT’S HIS FIFTH NBA GAME AND HE IS 19 YEARS OLD. JUST RIDICULOUS. >> Will: HIM AND LeBRON RIGHT NOW,. >> Blake: THERE ARE SOME K.D.s
AS WELL. GUYS WHO HAVE DONE BIG NUMBERS IN THEIR TEENS. K.D. SNEAKS INTO SOME OF THEM. THE EARLY. >> Will: SNEAKS INTO THIS CONVERSATION. >> Blake: YEAH. I KNOW YOU ARE BASICALLY ON THE WEMBY BEAT AT THIS POINT FOR THE “WASHINGTON POST”. BEFORE WE GET INTO SOME OF THE SPECIFICS, HOW HAS THAT BEEN? SO FAR IT’S KIND OF DELIVERED– NOT KIND OF, IT HAS DELIVERED ON THE HYPE AND THE EXCITEMENT WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE BEING AROUND% HIM AND THAT TEAM DAY-TO-DAY TO START THE SEASON? >> WELL THIS IS A HONEYMOON SEASON FOR SAN ANTONIO.
NO PRESSURE. JUST FUN. EVERYBODY IS YOUNG. WE’VE HEAR THESE STORIES ABOUT OTHER SUPERSTARS HAVING DIFFICULT ACCLIMATIONS TO THE NBA. MICHAEL JORDAN IN HARD DRUG USE, AND LeBRON JAMES. ALL THE
HE TOOK A 40-POINT LOSS TO THE LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS A FEW NIGHTS AGO, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, IT’S BEEN REALLY, REALLY FUN. THERE IS AN INFECTIOUS NATURE TO HIS PERSONALITY. HE’S A VERY SERIOUS GUY ON AND OFF THE KOREA, BUT HE LOVES WINNING. YOU SEE THE SMILES BREAK THROUGH FROM HIM AFTER HE BET THE SUNS AND AFTER THEY GOT THEIR FIRST WIN AGAINST THE HOUSTON ROCKETS. EVERYONE IS RIDING THIS ROCKET SHIP TO THE MOON. THEY UNDERSTAND THIS GUY IS SPECIAL. IT’S SORT OF A MATTER OF WHEN NOT IF AND I THINK WE GOT THAT
ANSWER YESTERDAY WHEN HE JUST ABSOLUTELY DESTROYED PHOENIX KIND OF IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE. DUNKING OVER THE TOP OF THEM. BLOCKING SHOT AFTER SHOT. DOWN THE STRETCH, HE DRILLS THAT DAGGER THREE-POINTER OFF THE DRIBBLE LOOKING AN AWFUL LOT LIKE A TALLER AND LONGER KEVIN DURANT. IT’S BEEN A WHIRLWIND FOR THESE FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS. NEXT WEEK HE GOES TO NEW YORK AND I THINK YOU ARE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF ATTENTION WHEN HE GETS THAT FIRST GAME AT M.S.G. >> Will: YEAH. I WAS GOING TO SAY, MY FAVOURITE PLAYS FROM LAST NIGHT WERE THE SPURS
PLAYERS REALIZING ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS THROW NOT EVEN AN ACCURATE PASS. IT’S JUST LIKE A CORNER KICK IN SOCCER. WE’LL HOOF IT SOMEWHERE IN THAT GENERAL AREA AND HE IS GOING TO GO UP THERE AND GET IT. HE DOESN’T HAVE TO DUNK IT HE IS REDIRECTING IT. TAPPING IT. NOT EVEN FINGER ROLLING IT IN. BUT HE IS SO TALL AND SO LONG THAT IS ALL IT TAKES. YEAH. OUT OF THE 38 POINTS AND ALL THE DEFENSIVE SEQUENCES TOO, WAS THERE ONE THAT STOOD OUT TO YOU THAT THIS IS SOMETHING I’VE% NEVER SEEN BEFORE?
>> WELL JUST THE SHEER VOLUME OF THE LOBS WHERE THEY’RE GOING TO IT OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN JUST EXPLOITING PHOENIX’S WEAK INTERIOR DEFENCE. I CAN’T REMEMBER SEEING THAT PLAY WORK FOUR TIMES IN A ROW LIKE IT DID FOR WEMBY. OBVIOUSLY HE IS DOING IT IN SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT WAYS EACH TIME. HE COMPARED IT TO FREESTYLING. WHEN I GO OUT THERE, I’M NOT DECIDING WHAT I’M GOING TO DO. WHEN HE IS TRYING TO FINISH AROUND THE BASKETBALL. HE WANT TO BE VERY IMPROVISATIONAL. THEY HAD HIM JUGGLING TENNIS BALLS TO WORK ON HIS HAND/EYE COORDINATION AND
A TENNIS BALL IN HIS HAND LOOKS LIKE A PINGPONG BALL IN OUR HANDS AND IT’S THE SAME DEAL WITH THE BASKET. IT LOOKS LIKE A VOLLEYBALL IN HIS HANDS. HIS HANDS ARE JUST HUGE, AND I THINK THAT ROCKY MOUNTAIN HELPS HIM WHEN IT COMES TO TOUCH AROUND THE BASKET. HE IS DOING LIKE OVER THE HEAD SHOTS ON TUESDAY NIGHT, HE IS FLICKING THEM BACKWARDS OVER HIS LAST NIGHT, IT WAS LEFTY DUNK HERE. Dr. JAY STYLE. PLAY AFTER PLAY AFTER PLAY. I WAS JOKING TO THE GUY NEXT TO ME THAT HIS HIGHLIGHT REEL WOULD BE FIVE
MINUTES LONG AND I THINK IT ACTUALLY WOUND UP BEING LONGER THAN THAT WHEN THEY PUT IT TOGETHER AT THE END OF THE NIGHT. IT’S JUST RIDICULOUS, BUT I WANT TO STRESS, HE IS NOT JUST A HIGHLIGHT PLAYER. THIS GUY IS A MASSIVE IMPACT OFFENCE AND DEFENCE PLAYER. YOU LOOK AT THEIR PLUS/MINUS NUMBERS WHEN HE IS ON THE COURT VERSUS WHEN HE IS OFF THE COURT. NIGHT AND DAY. NO HUGE SURPRISE BECAUSE SAN ANTONIO IS A YOUNG TEAM AND HE IS SUCH A BIG DEFENSIVE FORCE, BUT HE IS BLOCKING SHOTS WITHOUT EVEN COLLECTING HIS KNEES LET
ALONE JUMPING. HE IS MAKING GRAYSON ALLEN LOOK LIKE A– >> Blake: LOOK. WE’LL TALK ABOUT HIM WITH YOU FOR AT LEAST HALF AN HOUR AND THEN WE’LL TALK ABOUT HIM ON MONDAY WHEN RAPTORS GET TO SEE HIM. HE PLAYS THE SUNS IN BACK-TO-BACK GAMES, AND YOU THINK– I KNOW THE SUNS ARE GOING THROUGH SOME STUFF AND IT WAS BOOKER’S FIRST GAME BACK. THEY STILL DON’T HAVE BRADLEY BEAL. BUT YOU WOULD THINK HAVING GOT A LOOK AT HIM FIVE GAMES INTO HIS CAREER, MAYBE THERE IS SOME STUFF YOU CAN PICK UP, HEY, WE CAN PICK AT
THIS. HEY, THIS IS WHAT HE DOES OFFENSIVELY. STOP LOSING THE EIGHT-FOOT GUY TO BACK CUTS SOMEHOW. BUT INSTEAD YOUR MIC IS OFF WILLIAM IF YOU WANT TO JUMP IN. >> Will: THEY’RE JUST THROWING THE BALL IN THE GENERAL DIRECTION. HE DOES THE REST. >> Blake: IT’S TOUGH, MAN. YOU HAVE TO BE REALLY, REALLY PHYSICAL TO KEEP HIM OUT OF HIS SPOTS. BEN, WHEN YOU SEE HE HAS THAT ROUGH FIRST HALF IN THE FIRST GAME AGAINST PHOENIX AND HE BOUNCES BACK AND HAS A PRETTY GOOD SECOND HALF. HE MAKES THESE COMMENTS AFTER THE GAME ABOUT HOW
PLAYING AGAINST K.D. SHOWED HIM HOW FAR HE HAS TO GO AND THINGS LIKE THAT AND THEN SECOND TIME SEEING THE SAME TEAM, IT WAS HIM WHO WAS WORLDS BETSER RATHER THAN THE SUNS WHO HAD ADJUSTED TO H HIM. WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU ABOUT THE VELOCITY OF HIS ROOKIE SEASON. >> LOOK, MAN, YOU ARE ALL OVER IT. ONE OF HIS CHIEF STRENGTH IS HOW QUICKLY HE CAN PROCESS INFORMATION AND HOW FAST HE LEARNS. SOMETHING THAT POPOVICH HAS TALKED ABOUT AND PLAYED OUT EXACTLY LIKE THAT THIS WEEK. THE FIRST GAME AGAINST PHOENIX, HE WAS NERVOUS AGAINST
K.D. HE GOT STRIPPED ON THE DRIBBLE. K.D. HIT– PICTURE PERFECT EXPWRUMPER AND IT’S FEELING LIKE THIS WELCOME TO THE NBA MOMENT AND THE ADJUSTMENTS CAME IN THE SECOND HALF. HE PLAYED, I THOUGHT HARDER AND WAS INCLUDED A LITTLE BIT MORE BY HIS TEAMMATES. HE HAS THAT BIG DUNK TO HELP FINISH OFF THE RALLY BEFORE JOHNSON MAKES THAT INCREDIBLE PLAY RIGHT AT THE BUZZER. THEY KIND OF ESCAPE WITH THAT VICTORY. YOU COME OUT OF THAT GAME AND YOU ARE THINKING, OKAY. K.D. WILL BE SO PISSED OFF THAT HE CHOKED THAT THING AWAY. HE IS GOING TO
WANT TO COME BACK AND SEND ANOTHER MESSAGE. THE END SPIRE SPURS COME SHOOTING OUT OF THE GATE. THEY CAN’T MISS A SHOT AND THEY’RE HANGING ON FOR DEAR LIFE DOWN THE STRETCH, BUT AGAIN TAKING THAT LESSEN HE LEARNED FROM K.D. ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF PACE AND GETTING TO YOUR SPOTS AND KIND OF DICTATING THE ACTION, THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WEMBANYAMA DID THE VERY NEXT NIGHT DOWN IN THE FOURTH QUARTER WHERE HE SCORES 10 POINTS AND BASICALLY PUTS THE GAME AWAY AFTER PHOENIX HAD TIED IT. HE WASN’T RUSHING. HE WAS TAKING THINGS IN RHYTHM. ALL PRETTY
HIGH-PERCENTAGE LOOKS. HE IS VERY CONFIDENTLY STEPPING UP AND DRAINING THAT DAGGER. AND AFTERWARDS HE IS TALKING ABOUT, LOOK. YOU DON’T GET SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO KILL YOUR OPPONENTS, SO YOU GOT TO TAKE THEM WHEN YOU GET THEM. HE SOUNDS LIKE A RUTHLESS PLAYER IN HIS PRIME. HE GOES FROM BEING THIS ROOKIE TO AW SHUCKS TO BEING NERVOUS TOO SHAKING KE KEVIN DURANT’S H. TO THURSDAY NIGHT, PUTS HIS ARM AROUND WEMBY. CONGRATULATES HIM AND IS BASICALLY PAYING HIS RESPECTS AND HE GOES TO THE MEDIA AFTERWARDS AND SINGS THE GUY’S PRAISES. IT’S QUICKLY HOW QUICKLY HE ADAPTS
TO. THAT SUMMER LEAGUE TOO. STINKER IN HIS FIRST GAME. SECOND GAME, HE LOOKS MUCH BETTER. MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE. I THINK HE IS ONE OF THESE GUYS WHERE HIS LIFE IS SO CAREFULLY ORCHESTRATED. SO CAREFULLY SCRIPTED. HE IS FIXED TO THESE ROUTINES SO TIGHTLY IN TERMS OF HIS PREGAME WARMUPS THAT WHEN HE GETS PUT INTO NEW ENVIRONMENT IT IS TAKES HIM A MINUTE TO GET ACCUSTOMED TO IT. WHERE IS MY LOCKER. WHAT’S UP IS MY CLASS SCHEDULE. BY DAY 2, HE HAS MASTERED EVERYTHING. IT’S A VERY UNIQUE SKILL. I THINK IT’S GOING TO SERVE HIM VERY
WELL. >> Will: YEAH. THAT FOCUS AND ESPECIALLY THE WHOLE INDUSTRY AROUND HIM, RIGHT. HONESTLY I FEEL LIKE THE LAST TIME I REMEMBER SOMETHING LIKE THIS WAS WITH LeBRON. THERE WAS ALREADY SUCH A BIG SYSTEM AROUND LeBRON. IT IS INTERESTING. IT LOOKS RIDICULOUS NOW. WHO WAS IT THAT LeBRON HAS TO FIT IN WITH US? >> RICKY DAVIS. >> Will: YEAH. >> HE HAD A BUNCH OF VETS. >> Will: I THINK IRA COULD FIT IN AFTER LeBRON. I THINK THAT I’M KIND OF WATCHING FOR THAT WITH SAN ANTONIO PLAYERS BECAUSE IT IS CURIOUS TO ME HOW THEY’RE
GOING TO DELIVER HIM THE BALL. GUYS LIKE TRAY JONES REALLY FIGURED OUT. JOHNSON THROUGH A LOB TO WEMBY. IT WAS HORRIBLE. BUT HE FINISHED IT AT THE BASKET ANYWAY. THE CAMERA LINGERED ON CELDON’S FACE. I GUESS THAT IS ENOUGH NOW. THAT IS NOW WE PLAY BASKETBALL. HOW ARE THE REST OF THE SPURS TEAM ADAPTING TO PLAYING WITH HIM AND GETTING ANYMORE HIS SPOTS. >> WELL LOOK, POPOVICH HAD THIS JOKE LAST WEEK. WEMBY IS GOING TO BE THE MAN ON THIS TEAM AS SOON AS I STOP HOLDING HIM BACK. IT FELT LIKE ONE OF THOSE JOKES
THAT WASN’T REALLY A JOKE. YOU LOOK AT WEMBY’S MINUTES. HE IS BASICALLY UNDER 30 MINUTES MOST NIGHT. HE GOT TO GO 34 LAST NIGHT. BUT IN GENERAL HE HAS BEEN SCALED DOWN. YOU LOOK AT HIS OFFENSIVE ROLE. THEY’RE DOING HIM NO FAVOURS. HOW MANY DISTRIBUTION-MINDED PLAYERS DO THEY HAVE ON THIS TEAM. GRAND EXPERIMENT. YOU ARE TAKING A 6-9 POWER FORWARD WHO IS A ENERGY GUY. HE’S A POOR MAN DENNIS RODMAN AND YOU ARE SAYING WE’RE GOING TO GIVE THAT GUY THE BALL AND HE WILL RUN THE OFFENCE? IT DOES KIND OF FEEL LIKE THEY’VE ALMOST
GOT LIKE BOWLING ALBIE BUMPERS ON FOR WEMBY. THEY’RE TRYING TO MAKE IT EASY AND JUST TRY TO HIDE HIM AND CONCEAL EVERYTHING HE IS ABLE TO DO. BUT YOU NAILED IT YOU DON’T HAVE TO HAVE STOCKTON OUT THERE THROWING THESE PERFECT PINPOINT PASSES TO GET HIM BUCKETS. HE CAN SCORE IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS, AND I THINK THE EARLY GROWING PAINS FOR HIM REALLY CAME WITH TRYING TO FIND THE RIGHT LEVEL OF INVOLVEMENT ON OFFENCE. HE WAS FLOATING A LITTLE BIT. NOT ALWAYS INCLUDED. THOSE GUYS ARE ALL TRYING TO SCORE. SO FOR WEMBY THAT LEADS
TO HIM FLOATING ON THE PERIMETER OR IF DOES GET THE BALL, HE IS RUSHING UP THREE-POINTERS. THEY STARTED TO WORK THROUGH THAT THESE LAST COUPLE OF GAMES. THE BALL MOVEMENT HAS BEEN BETTER. TERRIBLE TURNOVER TEAM AS WELL. THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THAT UNDER CONTROL LAST NIGHT AGAINST PHOENIX. THE MORE POSSESSIONS THAT YOU HAVE AND THE MORE TIMES YOU FEED HIM THE BALL. THE MORE POINTS YOU ARE GOING TO GET. THIS GUY IS GOING TO BE A SCORING FACTORY. NO TWO WAYS AROUND IT. NO GREAT WAY TO DEFEND HIM. YOU CAN BE TRY TO BE
TOUGH AND PHYSICAL WITH HIM. BUT HE CAN STILL SHOOT OVER YOU FROM 15 FEET FROM THE THREE-POINT ARC. IF YOU DOUBLE TEAM HIM, HE IS SEEING OVER THE DEFENCE. HE HASN’T SEEN A LOT OF DOUBLE TEAMS YET. I THINK THAT IS GOING TO COME AND THERE WILL BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR HIS TEAMMATES TO REALLY FEAST ON THAT, AND WHAT I’VE NOTICED IS A PRETTY POSITIVE DEVELOPING FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN WEMBY AND HIS CORE TEAMMATES WHETHER IT’S BISSELL OR KELDON JOHNSON. I THINK ALL THESE GUYS REALIZE RATHER THAN WEMBY BEING A THREAT LIKE LeBRON WAS THAT HE IS ACTUALLY
KIND OF THIS CLARIFYING FORCE FOR THE SPURS BECAUSE THEY WERE STUCK IN THE MUCK FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS. LAST YEAR WAS THE LOSINGEST SEASON OF POPOVICH’S TENURE. THEY KEEP TRADING ALL THESE GUYS. THEY’RE PLAYING FOR THIS OBLIQUE FUTURE AND NOBODY KNOWS WHEN THAT FUTURE IS GOING TO COME AND IF YOU ARE BISSELL OR KELDON JOHNSON AND GETTING SHUT DOWN LAST SEASON. NOW WEMBY IS HERE. FUTURE IS HERE. EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND WHAT IS THE DEAL. IS YOU HAVE TO FIT IN AROUNDBY AND MAKE HIM BETTER AND THE TEAM WILL BE ON A ROCKET SHIP TO SUCCESS.
HIS ARRIVAL HAS BEEN INVIGORATING FOR THESE PLAYERS. THEY SEEM LIKE THEY’RE HAVING A GOOD TIME. I GOT TO STRESS THIS TOO. HE IS NOT AIR GANTD. HE IS VERY CONFIDENT. HE IS VERY SELF-ASSURED BUT HE IS DOESN’T HAVE TO CARRY HIMSELF ALL THE TIME LIKE SET MOST IMPORTANT PERSON ON THE WORLD AND GOD’S GIFT TO BASKETBALL. HE IS KIND OF A NERD. HE IS PRACTISING DEFENSIVE SLIDES DURING PREGAME WARMUPS. HE IS TAKING CHARGES IN THE CHEST. HE IS PRACTISING TAKING CHARGES IN THE CHEST LIKE FIVE MINUTES BEFORE THE GAME STARTS WITH 20,000 FANS IN THE
BUILDING. COULD YOU IMAGINE ANY OTHER NBA STAR DISIEN. >> Craig: KYLE LOWRY. KYLE I COULD IMAGINE DOING THIS. >> RIGHT. RIGHT. SPEAKING OF IN OTHER WORDS,NERD. HE’S A VERY DIFFERENT GUY. I ALSO THINK HE IS KIND OF HUMBLED BY HIS FAMILY EXPERIENCE AS WELL. BOTH OF HIS PARENTS HAVE BEEN TRAVELLING FROM GAME-TO-GAME WITH HIM. HIS SISTER HAS BEEN THERE AS WELL. HE GETS ALL THAT ATTENTION FOR DRESSING UP FOR HALLOWEEN, BUT HIS SISTER HAD THE BEST COSTUME IN THE ENTIRE FAMILY BECAUSE SHE DRESSED UP AS HIM AND IT WAS A SPOT-ON COSTUME. HIS FACIAL HAIR
ON HER FACE, AND THEY’RE ALL RUNNING DOWN TO COURT TO SHAKE HIS HAND WHEN HE IS COMING OFF THE COURT. YOU COULD JUST SORT OF FEEL THIS PROTECTIVE COCOON AROUND HIM, AND I THINK THAT HELPS TOO. I THINK IT HELPS HIS TEAMMATES REALIZE HE’S A PERSON EVEN THOUGH HE IS 7-FOOT-4. HE HAS FEELING. HE HAS FAMILY MEMBERS THAT HE CARES ABOUT, AND I THINK THEY’VE STARTED TO REALLY DEVELOP A NICE CULTURE DOWN. IT THE BIG QUESTION IS HOW MANY OF THESE GUYS STICK LONG TERM, RIGHT? THERE ARE A WHOLE BUNCH OF YOUNG GUYS THAT COULD
BE HERE TODAY AND GONE IN A COUPLE OF YEARS. BUT FOR NOW, I DON’T FEEL THE TOXIC TEAMMATE STUFF THAT A LOT OF STARS HAVE HAD TO DEAL. WITH IT JUST DOESN’T SEEM LIKE IT. >> Blake: IT HELPS TOO THAT A COUPLE OF THESE GUYS HAVE GOT THEIR NEXT CONTRACTS RIGHT. KELDON JOHNSON HAS HIS NEXT DEAL. JEREMY SOCHAN BISSELL HAS THAT BIG EXTENSION. THEY’RE ONLY TWO FREE AGENTS ARE TEDDY– FOR AS MUCH AS GUYS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. BEN, DEVIN VASYL DIDN’T PLAY IN THE SECOND HALF. IT DOES MEAN ON SUNDAY, WE MIGHT SEEN I
WOULD IMAGINE TREY JONES STARTS IN THAT SPOT. IF IT IS TRE JONES THAT STARTS AND DEVIN VESSEL MISSES THE GAME. >> IT’S POSSIBLE THAT THEY’LL START BRANDAN. AND JUST SPOT START HIM BECAUSE HE IS– HE IS MORE SIMILAR TO VASSELL IN NATURE. BRING IN TRE JONES IN OFF THE BENCH LIKE HE HAS BEEN. I WOULD THINK THAT IS PROBABLY THE DIRECTION HE GOES. SO MAYBE IT WON’T BE THIS RADICAL DEPARTURE, BUT THE BIGGER POINT HERE IS THAT VASSELL BEING THEIR HIGH USAGE GUY. WITH HIM BEING OUT, ALL BETS ARE OFF. WEMBY YOU CAN HAVE AS
MANY SHOTS AS YOU WANT. WE’RE LOOKING FOR OTHER SOURCES OF OFFENCE, AND I DON’T THINK IT WAS COINCIDENTAL THAT HIS BEST OFFENCE SHOWING HERE WAS THE SECOND HALF OF LAST NIGHT’S GAME WHICH HAPPENS TO BE THE GAME WHEN VASSELL WASN’T ON THE COURT. THERE IS A LOT OF POSSESSIONS THAT NEED TO BE USED AND GREATER OPPORTUNITIES FOR WEMBANYAMA TO USE THEM. WHAT I DON’T THINK IS GOING TO HAPPEN. I DON’T THINK POPOVICH IS GOING TO TRY TO KILL THE GOLDEN GOOSE HERE. I DON’T THINK HE IS GOING TO RUN UP WEMBANYAMA’S MINUTES AND EXPECTED HIM
TO TAKE 20 TO 25 SHOTS. I THINK THEY’RE OKAY IF THEY DROP SOME GAMES HERE AND THERE. THE HAVE A VERY LONG-TERM STRATEGY. A VERY YOUNG AND INEXPERIENCED ROSTER, AND THEY– THEY AREN’T IN ANY RUSH. IT CREATES AN OPPORTUNITY ACTUALLY FOR SAN ANTONIO OPPONENTS HERE DURING HIS ABSENCE TO FEED A WOUNDED TEAM. THEY’RE TRYING TO KEEP THE BIG PICTURE IN MIND WITH WEMBY. MANAGE HIS MINUTES. MAKE SURE HE IS GETTING THESE POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTAL STEPS. DON’T THROW HIM OUT THERE. AT TIMES WHEN KEVIN WAS A ROOKIE. IT FELT LIKE HE WAS BEING THROWN TO THE WOLVES.
HE WAS GETTING OUT-PHYSICALLED BY OPPONENTS. SUFFERING LOSS AFTER LOSS AFTER LOSS. IT GOT DEMORALIZING AT TIMES THERE IN SEATTLE. AND I THINK SAN ANTONIO IS TRYING TO PROTECT AGAINST THAT. SO FAR SO GOOD. THEY’VE GOT A WINNING RECORD THROUGH FIVE GAMES. BUT I DON’T KNOW IF THAT WILL HOLD UP. THERE WILL BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OTHER TEAMS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE. >> Will: TAKING AWAY FROM THE ACTUAL COURT ITSELF. WHAT YOU ARE DESCRIBING A STAR OF THIS MAGNITUDE, THE SPOTLIGHT IS ALREADY RIDICULOUS. EVEN SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN LOOK AT VERY SIMPLY. ALL RIGHT. I WATCHED THE GAME
LAST NIGHT, BUT I WANT TO WATCH THE HIGHLIGHT PACKAGE THIS MORNING. AND I’M GOING ON U TU, 2 MILLION VIEWS ON JUST WEMBY AND JUST THIS ONE GAME, AND HONESTLY THERE IS VERY FEW GAMES IN THE NBA THAT WHAT WAS YESTERDAY NOVEMBER 2nd, NO NOVEMBER 2-7BD GAME SHOULD HAVE 2 MILLION VIEWS, BUT THAT IS HOW MUCH FASCINATION THERE IS AROUND A GUY LIKE THAT. I AM REALLY CURIOUS IN TERMS OF JUST LIKE ALL THE THINGS OFF THE COURT THAT YOU NEED TO DO TO SUPPORT THIS KIND OF THING BECAUSE MENTALLY IT HAS TO BE RIDICULOUS
AS A 19-YEAR-OLD YOU HAVE LIKE THIS MUCH ATTENTION ON YOU THIS QUICKLY, AND YOU ARE HAVING SUCCESS THAT QUICKLY. I DON’T KNOW HOW YOU– I CAN’T IMAGINE THE AVERAGE PERSON IN THIS SPOT. IT WOULD TAKE SO MUCH SUPPORT AROUND HIM TO MAKE THIS SUCCESSFUL. >> WELL KEEP IN MIND HE IS NOT THE AVERAGE PERSON. HE IS PRETTY QUICK TO POINT OUT. HE HAS BEEN PRETTY TALL HIS WHOLE LIFE. HE HAS BEEN ABLE TO HIDE FROM THIS. YOU’VE SEEN THE HIGHLIGHTS SINCE HE WAS EIGHT YEARS OLD. HE LOOKS LIKE HE IS TWICE AS TALL AS HIS
OPPONENTS. HE IS USED TO THIS. HE IS ACCUSTOMED TO. THIS I PICKED UP ON THIS LAST YEAR WHEN HE CAME OVER TO NEVADA FOR THOSE SHOWCASE GAMES. THERE WAS A LOT OF BIGWIGS IN ATTENDANCE. A LOT OF NBA POWER BROKERS, AND HE WAS VERY COOL, CALM, AND COLLECTED IN THAT ENVIRONMENT. HE SEEMED VERY WELL PREPARED FOR THAT ENVIRONMENT. I DO THINK PLAYING IN SAN SAN ANTONIO HELPS BECAUSE IT’S A LITTLE BITZ AVCO COON DOWN THERE. THEY HAVE A GREAT FAN BASE THAT LOVES THE TEAM THAT IS REALLY THIRSTY TO GET BACK IN THE MIX. SO
THEY’VE ALREADY GOT ALL THESE MURALS ALL THE WAY AROUND TOWN OF WEMBY RIGHT NEXT TO A TIMMY MURAL. NOW YOU’VE GOT THESE WEMBY MURALS. THEY’VE TOTALLY EMBRACED HIM AND JUST BY VIRTUE OF NOT BEING ON THE COAST, THERE IS A LOT LESS MEDIA ATTENTION, RIGHT. HIS DEBUT GAME WAS CRAZY. HUNDREDS OF MEDIA CREDENTIALS HANDED OUT FOR THAT. ALSO KEEP IN MIND THIS DUDE IS LIKE GEN X OR WHATEVER IS AFTER GEN X. HE IS USED TO SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE PHONES AND BRAND BUILDING AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF. I DON’T THINK HE LOOKS AT
A YOUTUBE CLIP AND SAYS OH MY GOD. 2 MILLION PEOPLE ARE WATCHING ME. HE’S A LITTLE BIT LIKE LeBRON. HE IS PROBABLY THINKING HOW DO I GROW THAT TWO TO THREE, RIGHT? MAYBE I SHOULD DRESS UP LIKE SLENDERMAN. THAT WILL BREAK THE INTERNET. THAT IS A GOOD IDEA. I THINK HE IS VERY COMFORTABLE BOTH WITH THE CROWDS THAT KIND OF FOLLOW HIM FROM ARENA TO ARENA AND HE IS GETTING PEOPLE SHOWING ONE HIS FRENCH JERSEYS. PEOPLE LEANING OVER THE STANDS TRYING TO GIVE HIM A HIGH-FIVE BEFORE GAMES. HE DUBBED HIMSELF THE @WEMBY HANDLE. HE IS
READY IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLY COULD, HE DOESN’T SEEM TOO SHAKEN BY THIS. NOW WE DO NEED TO REMEMBER, THE OLDEST STORY IN THE NBA, WE BUILD STARS UP AND THEY GET TORN DOWN, RIOT. I DOANLTD KNOW WHEN THAT OTHER SHOE IS GOING TO DROP. SO FAR HE HAS AVOIDED IT PRETTY WELL. MAYBE HE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF A TASTE OF IT IN THAT FIRST GAME IN SUMMER LEAGUE WHERE SOME PEOPLE WERE COMING AFTER HIM FOR BEING DISAPPOINTING THERE, BUT HE IS SO THOUGHTFUL AND AGAIN SO KIND OF SCRIPTED IN HIS ROUTINES AND SO SERIOUS
ABOUT HIS APPROACH, HE ACTUALLY IS ONE OF THOSE GUYS WHERE I BELIEVE HIM WHEN HE SAYS I’M HIS BIGGEST CRITIC. I THINK HE IS HARDER ON HIMSELF THAN MOST PEOPLE WOULD BE ON HIM FROM THE OUTSIDE. TO ME THAT IS A BIG ASSET, RIGHT. THAT IS WAY TO CONTINUE TO DEVELOP THROUGH YOUR CAREER. IF JA JA MORANT HAD TAKEN THAT LESSON A FEW YEARS AGO, WEMBY HAS ALREADY FIGURED THAT OUT. >> Blake: HE IS CHECKING ALL THE BOXES ON THE COURT. HE IS CHECKINGLET BOXES IN TERMS OF LEARNING THE GAME AND APPLYING THAT DEVELOPMENT. HE
IS CHECKING THE OFF-COURT BOXES IN TERMS OF THE GROUPS AROUND HIM AND HOW HE IS HANDLING THE SCRUTINY AND SOCIAL MEDIA AND ALL THESE THINGS. SO LET’S PLAY OUT THE SCENARIO WHERE THINGS KEEP PROGRESSING REALLY, REALLY WELL. WEMBY IS EVERYTHING THAT WAS PROMISED. PLUS 13 WHEN HE IS ON THE FLOOR ALREADY EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE A GIANT NEGATIVE AS A TEAM DESPITE BEING THREE-AND-TWO. HE KEEPS HELPING DRIVE WINNING AND THIS SPURS TEAM IS BETTER-THAN-EXPECTED. HOW TEMPTED ARE THE SAN ANTONIO SPURS GOING TO BE TO EXPET DIETE THIS THING. THERE IS CAP SPACE. DRAFT ASSETS. YOUNG
PLAYERS ON THIS TEAM. IF WEMBY CONTINUES TO DELIVER AT THIS RATE, WHAT IS THE TIMELINE LOOK LIKE FOR THE SPURS BEING LIKE, YOU KNOW WHAT, LET’S TRY TO WIN NOW? >> WELL IF WE JUDGE HIM OFF THIS PAST SUMMER, WE WOULD SAY THERE IS NO ACCELERATED TIME– POTENTIALLY JUST HELPED EASE WEMBANYAMA’S TRANSITION TO THE NBA, AND THEY DIDN’T EVEN CARE. WE’RE GOING TO PAY OUR GUYS. WE’RE GOING TO TAKE IT NICE AND SLOW. I DO THINK THAT WILL BE THEIR GENERAL APPROACH HERE. I DON’T THINK THEY’RE IN A HUGE RUSH. IS IT CRAZY THAT HE
COULD WIN ROOKIE OF THE YEAR, BE AN ALL-STAR AND BE DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR WITHIN HIS FIRST TWO SEASONS. I THINK THAT IS ON THE TABLE. THAT IS PRETTY LOFTY STUFF, BUT DEFINITELY ON THE TABLE. I THINK THEY’RE LOOKING AT THIS WITH THE SAME APPROACH THAT THEY USED WITH ROBINSON AND DUNCAN. LOOK WE WANT THIS TO BE LIKE A LIFE-LONG DEAL. WE AREN’T TRYING TO RUN YOU INTO THE GROUND WITH MINUTES. WE AREN’T GOING TO TRY TO SACRIFICE FLEXIBILITY TO GO OUT AND MAKE SOME QUICK PATCH MOVES TO GET YOU LIKE SOME SECONDARY STAR
WHO IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO HELP YOU WIN NOW. THAT HAS NEVER BEEN THE SAN ANTONIO SPURS’ PHILOSOPHY. WE’LL SEE. THEY DON’T HAVE A TON OF TALENT RIGHT NOW. YOU LOOK AT THESE GUYS VASSELL AND KELDON JOHNSON. IF THEY’RE LEADING THEIR OWN TEAMS, THAT IS NOT VERY GOOD. MAYBE THEY COULD BE THE THIRD, FOURTH, FIFTH BEST GUY ON A GOOD TEAM. IT WILL BE AN INTERESTING CHALLENGE FOR ALL SAN ANTONIO GOES AND GETS THE NUMBER 2 GUY AND NUMBER 3 GUY. WHETHER THAT COMES FROM THE DRAFT WILL. THEY BE BAD ENOUGH TO GET GOOD
DRAFT PICKS. IS WEMBY GOING TO BE A MAGNET TO DRAW PEOPLE TO WANT TO PLAY WITH HIM. WE HAVEN’T SEEN LUKA DONCIC DO THAT. THEY’RE HAVING A GOOD TIME RIGHT NOW DAY-TO-DAY. THEY HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO WORRY ABOUT THAT DOWN THE ROAD. POPOVICH TOLD THIS FUNNY STORY. HE DIDN’T EVEN WATCH THE DRAFT LOTTERY HE WAS ASLEEP ON A PLAIN TO ITALY. HE WAS ON VACATION. HE WAS TRYING TO KEEP HIS EXPECTATIONS DOWN. HE DIDN’T WANT TO GET HIS HOPES UP. THEY’RE STILL WRAPPING THEIR MIND AROUND THE GIFT THEY HAVE BEEN GIVEN BY THE BASKETBALL
GODS. OH, YEAH, WE BETTER DO WHAT THE CLIPPERS DID AND TRADE FOR PAUL GEORGE ASAP. SAN ANTONIO OPERATES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SPECTRUM. >> Will: WHAT A LUXURY. KEEP DREAMING OF THE FUTURE. THAT IS JUST A REALITY. ALSO THINK ABOUT AN ALTERNATE UNIVERSE WHERE POP GETS OFF THAT PLANE AND OH, I’M GOING TO HAVE TO COACH BRANDON MILLER. >> Blake: I’M NOT COMING BACK. >> Will: LET ME ENJOY ITALY. THANK YOU. THIS IS GREAT TO CHAT. ALEX. DO YOU WANT TO GET TAPPED IN AGAIN. >> Alex: YEAH. BEN. >> Will: HE HAS BEEN
HERE THIS WHOLE TIME. >> Alex: THIS IS ALEX WONG. AUTHOR OF PREHISTORIC THE AUDACIOUS AND IMPROBABLE STORY OF THE TORONTO RAPTORS SOLD OUT ON AMAZON, NOW AVAILABLE AT INDIGO. I HOPE YOU GOT YOUR COPY, BEN. >> WELL ALEX YOU SHOULD HAVE TEED ME UP. I GOT MY COPY. IT’S WAITING FOR ME AT HOME. I’M READY TO ROCK. IT’S A BEAUTIFUL PURPLE COP. >> Alex: SHOUTOUT TOORTIST. >> I’M GLAD TO PLUG YOU ANY TIME. CONGRATULATIONS ON THE BOOK. I HOPE YOU GUYS ARE ALL HOLDING UP THERE. WORRIED ABOUT YOUR RAPTOR AFTER THEY DROPPED THAT ONE TO
THE BLAZERS. >> Bryan: IT’S ALL GOOD. WE GOT THADDEUS YOUNG AND JAKOB POELTL. >> Alex: DON’T WORRY. THAT IS WHY WE’VE SPENT TWO HOURS TALKING ABOUT WEMBY. I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR YOU BEFORE OUR ZOOM TIMES OUT. WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS AT THE TOP OF THE PROGRAM IF YOU COULD PICK TWO NBA PLAYERS IN THE LEAGUE RIGHT NOW TO STACK ON TOP OF EACH OTHER TO GUARD VICTOR WEMBANYAMA, WHICH TWO PLAYERS ARE STACKING ON TOP OF EACH OTHER? >> OH, MY GOODNESS. THAT IS A REALLY, REALLY GOOD QUESTION BECAUSE MY FIRST THOUGHT
WOULD BE K.D. AND– DO THOSE GUYS HAVE THE UPPER-BODY STRENGTH TO BE ABLE TO FORM THE VERTICAL LINE THAT YOU WOULD REALLY NEED. BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE VERTICALITY. >> Alex: YOU NEED A STRONG BASE. >> I THINK YOU NEED THE QUICKNESS MORE THAN THE STRONG BASE BECAUSE WEMBY IS SO FLUID AND HE IS TRYING TO DANCE ON YOU. THAT IS A TOUGH ONE. IF YOU HAD K.D. WITH THE LITTLE THINGS THEY USED DURING PREGAME WARMUPS LIKE THE PADS THEY USED TO SIMULATE SHOT BLOCKERS. I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE IDEAL. >> Blake: K.D. ON
JAMAAL MAGLOIRE’S SHOULDRS. >> Alex: SECOND QUESTION FOR YOU, BEN. I’VE BEEN TELLING THESE GUYS ON THE PROGRAM, I’VE GOT THE SPURS WINNING A TITLE IN THREE YEARS. I’M PICTURING ZACH COLLINS JUMPING INTO VICTOR WEMBANYAMA LAP AT THE BUZZER. TIM DUNCAN AND DAVID ROBINSON. ô> Will: ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH ZACK COLLINS’ GAME. >> Alex: AS A REPUTABLE NATIONAL NBA WRITER, YOU ARE WILLING TO JOAN ME AND ENDORSE THIS TAKE ON AIR RIGHT NOW? >> LOOK, I THINK THIS IS THE BEST POSSIBLE– TO BE HONEST. I CAN’T ENDORSE IT, BUT ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE AFTER LAST NIGHT, RIGHT.
WOULD IT BE NUTS IF HE WAS FINALS ROOKIE. IT WOULD BE NUTS. >> Alex: YOU CAN DREAM. >> IT ALL FEELS LIKE IT’S ON THE TABLE. YOU CAN DEFINITELY TREEM. ZACK COLLINS IS A GREAT CHARACTER FOR THIS WHOLE GROUP. THIS CRAZY GUY FROM BORN AND RAISED IN LAS VEGAS. READY TO DRAIN THREE POINTERS OVER PHOENIX LAST NIGHT, AND MIX IT UP IN THE PAINT AND NOBODY HAS REALLY TESTED WEMBANYAMA SUPER HARD PHYSICALLY YET. I THINK THOSE TWO GUYS ARE EMERGING AS BODY GUARDS, THAT IS A GREAT ROLE TO HAVE. IT’S A GOOD ANGLE. >> Alex:
ZACK COLLINS. UDONIS HASLEM. LAST QUESTION FOR YOU, BEN. YOU WROTE THE GREAT BOOK BUBBLE BALL INSIDE THE NBA’S FIGHT TO SAVE A SEASON. GREAT READ. I THINK PEOPLE THAT DON’T KNOW, YOU WERE ONE OF THE FEW REPORTERS THAT WAS IN THE BUBBLE. WE TALK ABOUT THIS SOMETIMES ON THE SHOW. WHEN YOU THINK BACK TO THOSE TIMES. WHAT’S UP IS YOUR FAVOURITE RANDOM BUBBLE STORY THAT COMES TO TOP OF MIND FOR YOU. >> WELL I TRY NOT TO THINK BACK TO THOSE TIMES. I COVERED THE TOKYO OLYMPICS, AND I HAVE BLOCKED THAT COMPLETELY OUT OF MY
MIND. I DON’T REMEMBER ANYTHING ABOUT THAT EXPERIENCE. THAT WAS ARGUABLY HARDER THAN THE BUBBLE. FROM A HISTORIC STANDPOINT THE MOST IMPORTANT MOMENT AT THE BUBBLE WAS THE BUCKS– IT WAS JUST SHEER CRAZINESS. BUT I THINK FROM LIKE A PERSONAL STANDPOINT I GOT DOUSED HEAD TO TOE IN CHAMPAGNE BY LeBRON JAME BECAUSE HE HAD NOBODY TOWELS CELEBRATE WITH. I JUST HAPPENED TO BE STANDING THERE. >> Alex: HE CELEBRATED HIS FOURTH RING WITH BEN GOLLIVER. >> Will: THAT IS A MICKEY MOUSE RING. IT’S OFFICIAL. >> HEY. COME ON, BE NICE. HE HAD NOBODY ELSE BETTER TO CELEBRATE.
WITH FOR ME IT WAS A GREAT MOMENT. FOR ME IT WASN’T AS FUN AS THE PREVIOUS THREE. OBVIOUSLY I GOT A CORK I THINK FROM THAT NIGHT AND I GOT SOME FUN PICTURES AND VIDEOS TO KIND OF BRAG TO ALL OF MY FRIENDS FOR THE REST OF TIME. >> Will: THAT IS AMAZING. >> Alex: I’M TAPPING BACK OUT, I APPRECIATE YOU GIVING ME FIVE MINUTES. >> Bryan: THAT SURPASSES J.R. SMITH THE FIRST PERSON TO TAKE THE TROPHY I THINK. >> Alex: OH MY GOD. >> Will: ANYWAY. BEN, “WASHINGTON POST,” I APPRECIA
