After Victor Wembanyama authored the worst shooting game of his career on opening night, a 1-for-13 showing in a loss to the Thunder, I wrote that the Spurs' honeymoon was over. It was dramatic by design -- a play on the early-season, and in this case single-game, overreactions we always get at the start of every new campaign. But there was truth in it.
Last year, everything the Spurs did was on house money. Eliminating the defending champion Thunder on the road in Game 7 of the conference finals. Holding the lead vs. the Knicks for 72% of total minutes played in the Finals.
Wembanyama unanimously winning Defensive Player of the Year and finishing third in MVP voting. All prologue, no expectations. This year, the real story starts, and we knew the benefit of the doubt would be gone.
When Wembanyama laid that opening-night egg, the chatter started. He doesn't have a go-to shot or spot. After that game, Wembanyama had no need for the critics.
He was his own biggest critic, lamenting his hesitancy and overthinking, saying he needed to "go back to playing the basketball I like." "I got no reason to be hesitant, no reason to not be myself," Wembanyama said. "For me, it's as simple as that. I'm good when I have fun." Suffice it to say, he's been having plenty of fun since.
Over his last seven games, Wembanyama is averaging 31.4 points, 12.2 rebounds and 4.3 blocks on 52% shooting. After opening 0-2, San Antonio has won six straight, with the latest being Wednesday night's 112-111 thriller over the Mavericks, who erased a 19-point deficit to tie the game with under two minutes to play. In the end, Wembanyama was just too much.
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