San Antonio Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs are reportedly not interested in a trade for Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young, per NBC Sports' Kurt Helin.

According to Helin, the Spurs don't see Young as a fit alongside Victor Wembanyama, but they might be interested in Hawks guard Dejounte Murray, who played for San Antonio from 2016 to 2022.

The report comes as San Antonio has been linked to Golden State Warriors point guard Chris Paul. NBA insider Marc Stein reported Saturday that the Spurs could be a potential suitor for Paul should he and the Warriors part ways this summer.

"A potential team to watch, should Paul and the Warriors part ways, is San Antonio," Stein wrote. "Among the early personnel rumbles in circulation: The Spurs could emerge as a Paul suitor if they decide to pursue some veteran know-how on a short-term contract basis to furnish presumptive Rookie of the Year winner Victor Wembanyama with more seasoned help in Year 2."

After a year with the Warriors, Paul could be a free agent if Golden State does not exercise his $30 million player option for the 2024-25 season by June 28. The veteran who thrived in the Los Angeles Clippers Lob City offense could be a perfect match for Wembanyama in his second season.

While Young won't be a free agent this offseason, he could be on the trade market after the Hawks missed the postseason this year. Many NBA insiders believe Atlanta will move on from Young this offseason, including Stein, who reported that there's "a growing belief" that Young will be traded this summer.

"You could also say that there is a growing belief in many corners of the league that Atlanta's preference would actually be shopping Young," Stein wrote.

Since pairing Young and Murray ahead of the 2022-23 season, the Hawks have produced one playoff appearance that ended in the first round and a 41-41 season this year.

Young averaged 10.8 assists per game this season and could be a solid option for a team in the market for a point guard. Trading him could also give Atlanta a key piece to improve next season or valuable picks to help with a possible rebuild.

Victor Wembanyama lived up to the hype during his rookie season, and his fellow players are taking notice.

The Athletic surveyed 136 NBA players who voted Wembanyama as the player they'd most want to build a team around. Wembanyama received 27.9 percent of the vote, narrowly edging Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić (27.2 percent).

"The upside and at 20 years old, you can see that if he stays healthy and continues to get better, he can be a truly great player. I don't want to put a ceiling on him," one player said.

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (10.3 percent) and Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Dončić (8.8 percent) also received a significant vote share. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jayson Tatum, Joel Embiid, LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo Paolo Banchero and Stephen Curry also received at least two votes.

Wembanyama averaged 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 3.6 blocks per game, emerging as the overwhelming favorite for Rookie of the Year and a Defensive Player of the Year finalist in his first NBA season.

It's been nothing short of a brilliant first season for the Spurs star, who came into the league as the most hyped prospect since LeBron James.

Ironically enough, James is by far the oldest player still receiving votes on this list at age 39. While it's likely he has only one or two more years left in the tank, James has built a legacy strong enough that his peers would take him over players 15-20 years his junior.

We'll have to wait another two decades to see if Wembanyama lived up to the hype enough to get votes on a similar list in 2044.

On the court, San Antonio Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama somehow crushed his massive preseason hype by averaging 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds and an NBA-high 3.6 blocks per game en route to certain Rookie of the Year honors.

Outside of his play, Wembanyama's team-first attitude and self-awareness have made waves, and ESPN basketball analyst JJ Redick told a story on the 7PM in Brooklyn podcast about how the big man has exemplified those attributes.

"He has this amazing ability to be aware of everything happening," Redick began.

"The stories I heard coming out of the Spurs camp, like even early in the season where there was a Drake concert in Austin and he got asked to come up on stage, 'cause Drake was doing that with a bunch of NBA guys this offseason. And Wemby was like, 'Can my teammates come up on stage with me? Cause they're going to be at the concert with me.'

"And Drake's camp was like, 'No.' And he was like, 'Then I don't want to do it.'

"What 19-year-old kid doesn't want to go up on stage with Drake? There's been anomalies for star players in that they have been low-maintenance. There's like Steph, and there's been like, Tim Duncan. Wemby's one of those guys."

That's obviously high praise from a respected veteran who played nearly two decades in the league and faced off against the best talents the game has seen.

Ultimaely, Wembanyama has potential to be the best player the game has ever seen, and he's off to a tremendous start. It's clear he's a team-first star as well, which should bode well for future success combined with his otherworldly talents.

Victor Wembanyama is truly living a "ball is life" philosophy.

"I feel like I'm immune to the... distractions like partying, alcohol, drugs," he told The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor on Thursday. "Like, why would I ever do that?

"I don't have nothing to compensate for," he added. "Because I choose to face... all the things that we have inside of us."

Those words will be music to the ears of everyone within the San Antonio Spurs organization. Wemby is fresh off a brilliant rookie season in which he averaged 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 3.6 blocks and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 46.5 percent from the field and 32.5 percent from three.

If he's already that impactful at 20 years of age, imagine the heights he can reach if he stays focused and dedicates himself to improving his game. It sounds as though he won't have many distractions getting in the way of that goal.

Victor Wembanyama is already starting his first NBA offseason modeling himself after an all-time great.

The San Antonio Spurs star told Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer that he plans on incorporating a Kevin Durant move into his game over the summer:

It speaks well to Wembanyama's developing basketball IQ that he's not looking for a flashy spin move or anything that will show up on a highlight reel, but rather an intricate move Durant uses to give himself space.

Durant is one of the most gifted scorers in NBA history, and his understanding of spacing and pacing within an offensive ecosystem has helped him age gracefully. There has been almost no drop-off in performance in Durant's game since returning from a torn Achilles, which is almost unheard of—particularly for a player in his 30s.

Wembanyama is already one of the most unique players to ever set foot on a basketball court. His 7'4" frame and rim protection already has him in Defensive Player of the Year conversations as a rookie, and he's a gifted passer (3.9 APG) who can also stretch beyond the three-point arc on offense—even if he's a below-average shooter at this point in his career.

If Wembanyama's work ethic winds up matching his generational physical talent, it won't be long until he's in a conversation with Durant among the best players in the NBA.

San Antonio Spurs rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama suggested this week that some players have reached out to him and expressed interest in joining the Spurs.

When asked by Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer if his play and potential have piqued the interest of other players across the NBA, Wembanyama said: "Yeah, I've received some messages. Even from prospects. But I try to sustain my role. It's a whole new world that I'm eager to discover. For sure, one day or the other, I'll have to be involved in this, I guess, even though I'm staying in my role as a player."

The Spurs finished with the second-worst record in the Western Conference this season at 22-60, but Wembanyama was every bit as good as advertised after the Spurs took him with No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft, which suggests a turnaround is coming soon.

Wemby was a dominant force who impacted games in myriad ways as a rookie, averaging 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.8 three-pointers made, 1.2 steals and a league-leading 3.6 blocks per game.

The 7'4" big man from France can stand to improve his efficiency after shooting 46.5 percent from the field and 32.5 percent from three-point range while also turning the ball over 3.7 times per game, but that will likely come with experience.

Although Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert is the favorite, Wembanyama is a strong NBA Defensive Player of the Year candidate, which is a rarity since no rookie has ever won the award, and he would be the youngest player to ever win it at just 20 years of age.

The Spurs have some talent around Wembanyama, including Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell, Jeremy Sochan, Zach Collins and Tre Jones, but they are lacking a secondary and tertiary star.

In the current NBA, it is rare for teams without multiple All-Stars to vie for championships, which suggests that the Spurs will have to get aggressive on the trade front or in free agency at some point.

Luckily for them, they have a highly attractive situation to offer to prospective additions in the form of playing with Wembanyama.

The prospect of playing alongside Wembanyama is especially exciting for point guards who can link up with him in pick-and-roll situations, and for three-point shooting specialists who will likely get plenty of open shots with Wemby commanding so much defensive attention.

Rising to the level of playoff contender immediately won't be easy in the stacked Western Conference, but Wembanyama's length and versatility are attributes that few other teams can match up with.

If the Spurs are able to leverage Wembanyama's excellence into the addition of an All-Star or two over the next couple of years, all signs point toward a Spurs basketball renaissance being on the horizon.

Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama is set to miss San Antonio's regular-season finale against the Detroit Pistons with a right ankle injury, according to the team's injury report.

The injury marks an end to Wembanyama's phenomenal rookie season.

The Spurs had been careful to not overwork Wembanyama in his debut campaign. The coaching staff generally held him to around 30 minutes per game, though there had been some flexibility depending on the situation.

Wembanyama managed to live up to, if not exceed, all of the hype around him when he was selected with the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA draft and he's arguably the top contender for the Rookie of the Year award.

The 20-year-old's rookie campaign comes to an end with averages of 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists and a league-leading 3.6 blocks per game in 71 starts.

This season ended up being a disappointment for the Spurs, who will finish with one of the worst records in the Western Conference, but their long-term outlook is extremely bright because of how well, and how quickly, Wembanyama has adjusted to the NBA.

Nike unveiled Victor Wembanyama's "A.I.R." concept shoe that was designed entirely by artificial intelligence.

It's unclear if the shoe will ever be released or worn on the floor. Wembanyama signed with Nike ahead of his rookie season and is seemingly on the precipice of a full-scale launch of his own apparel.

The Rookie of the Year favorite has lived up to the hype this season, posting averages of 21.3 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 3.6 blocks per game. He's expected to be on the shortlist of Defensive Player of the Year candidates, though Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert is a mortal lock to win the award.

Nike has been increasing its use of AI for footwear designs in recent years, but this is a first as a basketball shoe concept.

These prototypes certainly have a unique style to them, but it remains to be seen if they'll ever see on-court action.

San Antonio Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama will miss Wednesday game against the Oklahoma City Thunder as the team remains cautious with his ankle injury, via Andrew Lopez of ESPN.

The forward reportedly wanted to keep playing despite suffering the most recent injury on April 5, but head coach Gregg Popovich discussed the need to rest the rookie.

"Once when he had that foot thing and now down the stretch, I'm not sure it makes much sense to push it," Popovich said.

The absence means fans won't see a head-to-head battle between Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren, the two top rookies in the NBA this season.

While Wembanyama has missed time this season with various short-term ailments, including to his ankle, he has been fairly durable during his much-hyped rookie season and has appeared in 70 games.

He has also delivered on exceedingly high expectations and is averaging 21.3 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 3.6 blocks and 1.2 steals per game.

Yet keeping him healthy in the long run is far more important than how San Antonio plays down the stretch of what is largely a lost season for the struggling franchise.

Wembanyama is the future and an organizational cornerstone who will be expected to carry the Spurs for years to come. Having him on the floor in 2023-24 as they languish at the bottom of the Western Conference standings isn't necessary, so the team will surely treat this and any setback with the proper amount of caution.

As a result, look for Zach Collins to see more minutes down low until Wembanyama is ready to return.

Nike utilized a generational event to provide a major tease surrounding a generational talent.

On the day of the total solar eclipse, Nike Basketball released a video that may have showcased its new logo for San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama:

Wembanyama signed with Nike while playing professionally in France, so there wasn't the kind of frenzied bidding war like there has been with past prospects of his caliber entering the NBA.

The presumptive Rookie of the Year doesn't yet have his own signature shoe, but he did unveil a personalized version of the Nike G.T. Hustle 2 during All-Star Weekend.

Those shoes will hit stores in May.

A signature kick is inevitable for the 20-year-old, who's averaging 21.3 points, 10.7 rebounds and 3.6 blocks. He's already being floated as a potential successor to the Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James as the face of the NBA.

After Monday, we may have a good idea as to the general vibe behind Wembanyama's first Nike line.