Victor Wembanyama felt exhausted when Gregg Popovich took him out of the game during the Spurs’ loss to the Mavericks.
Game Recap:
With just under six minutes left and the score at 111-90 in favor of the Mavericks, Popovich decided to bench Wembanyama. Even if the game was slipping away, Wembyโs fatigue might have made this decision necessary. He had played less than 40 minutes in two of San Antonio’s five preseason games, which showed in his performance. Afterward, he admitted he wasn’t yet at his best fitness level.
Wemby’s Thoughts:
“None of us really have played four games since [the] middle of the summer for me,” Wemby shared with ESPN’s Michael C. Wright. “It’s a struggle… Conditioning is not an excuse [for missed shots]. I’ll have different weapons we need to know when to use.” He emphasized that getting used to shooting again in a real game setting is crucial.
Performance Analysis:
Wembanyama’s conditioning issues were evident in his defense; he managed only one block against Dereck Lively II by halftime, far from his usual average as a rookie. Offensively, he scored 17 points but struggled with accuracy, hitting just 5 out of 18 shots and only making one three-pointer out of eight attempts. Additionally, he had four turnovers.
Fans hope he’ll bounce back soon!
Despite these challenges, Wemby remains hopeful about improving his condition within a couple of games and appreciated some positive moments on court with teammates like Chris Paul.
Upcoming Match:
The Spurs face off against the Rockets next, where Wemby will take on Alperen Sengunโwho recently impressed with 25 points and 18 rebounds against Charlotteโin their home opener on Saturday.
