Victor Wembanyama's arrival in San Antonio earmarks the start of a new golden generation for the franchise, with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft already displaying his superstar potential.
On arrival in Texas, he received a warm welcome from fans and a guiding hand from a host of Spurs legends. Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Tim Duncan, and David Robinson, met with the French phenom in the days following the draft, perhaps establishing one of the best support systems for the future star.
Couldn’t ask for better role models 🖤 pic.twitter.com/lcw7cvbeTt
— Wemby (@wemby) June 25, 2023
In Duncan and Robinson, Wembanyama has two legendary Spurs big men in his corner already, but he could soon have one more, with LaMarcus Aldridge expressing his interest in working with the 19-year-old.
LaMarcus Aldridge interested in mentoring Victor Wembanyama
In an exchange on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Aldridge indicated that he would be open to a player development role with the Spurs, helping teach Wembanyama the tricks of the trade.
Yessir https://t.co/iq7xGG0JWZ
— LaMarcus Aldridge (@aldridge_12) September 30, 2023
"It's amazing because those guys won championships, they're Hall of Famers, so if you have a Hall of Famer in your ear every day, talking to you, grooming you and teaching you their ways is awesome," Aldridge told The Sporting News.
"I've been there I think two or three times around them and he's a great guy. He seemed like he's really eager to learn, so when you have those guys of that caliber in your ear, it's going to be great for him."
MORE: Wembanyama, Holmgren dazzled in their first preseason matchup vs. each other
When asked about his desire to join the Spurs' coaching ranks to pass on his knowledge, Aldridge emphatically answered, "Of course."
"Obviously, I'm open to the challenge and I would love to, but when you have those guys around, I don't think you need anyone else."
While having Duncan and Robinson as sounding boards will only be a good thing for Wembanyama, having a player of Aldridge's caliber to work with on a day-to-day basis is a match made in heaven.
Unlocking Wembanyama's post game
Aldridge, who played in six seasons with the Spurs, possesses one of the smoothest and most effective post games with his ability to get to his spots and let the mid-range jumper fly. That would be a devastating tool to add to Wembanyama's already impressive — but raw — offensive arsenal.
Wembanyama's skillset allows him to keep defenses guessing, putting the ball on the floor and spreading the court to the 3-point line, but getting the fundamentals right under the watchful eye of Aldridge would be a huge building block.
Aldridge's production in the post during his five full seasons in San Antonio paints a pretty picture.
| Season | Points | Rank | FG% |
| 2019-20 | 5.6 ppg | 2nd in NBA | 45.7% |
| 2018-19 | 9.0 ppg | 1st in NBA | 50.6% |
| 2017-18 | 9.3 ppg | 1st in NBA | 46.9% |
| 2016-17 | 5.8 ppg | 5th in NBA | 42.9% |
| 2015-16 | 5.6 ppg | 6th in NBA | 48.5% |
"I'm really big on like five seconds to go in the game, what move are you going to do? Then learning it, working on it, and do it with your eyes closed," Aldridge added.
"Everyone knows my fadeaway was my shot, so I don't care if it was the first quarter, fourth quarter, overtime, I was going to try to get middle and if you stopped me, I was going to fade away. So it simplifies you as you grow.
"First thing will be what do you want your go-to move to be where you can get it off anywhere you want it? I could fade away from the elbow, the block and once he got that down, we would just drill it, drill it, and drill it. Then what's your counter? Because he's so talented, he probably can overthink it, so it's like, what's your go-to move? And then what's your counter?
"Once you master those things, then we can build off of that and I feel like simplify it for him early, get him going and once he gets that down, then you can start to grow and grow."
Alrdidge already impressed by Wembanyama's game
At 19 years old, Webanyama already has four seasons of professional basketball under his belt in France, arriving in the NBA as one of the best prospects in recent history.
At 7-4 with a monstrous 8-foot wingspan, his rim protection will set the foundation for his game and despite his slender frame, his reach and timing will make him an impact player on that side of the floor right away, according to Aldridge.
MORE: NBA Rookie of the Year Odds - Wembanyama the early favorite
"Usually when they go to college, bigs, their defense is better than their offense and then they have a year or two to get their offense to catch up with their defense," he said.
"I feel like he's the same way. I feel like he's very athletic, agile, long-armed. I feel like his defense is already there. I think that's great because he can always be involved in the game and get himself a rhythm by playing defense."
WEMBY SAYS NO ⛔️
— NBA (@NBA) October 10, 2023
...for the first of many times.
Watch live on NBA TV: https://t.co/htyakZeFve pic.twitter.com/FF1EkDJ0WB
Wembanyama has plenty of expectations placed on his shoulders, drawing comparisons to the hype surrounding Zion Williamson and LeBron James, who were touted as saviors of the franchises that drafted them first overall. Wembanyama arrives in San Antonio in perhaps the perfect environment on a young, developing team that will allow him to grow into himself.
"I think having Pop [Gregg Popovich] in that organization is going to be great because I feel like one of the best things I've heard them say, which I've never heard anyone say, is we want to make sure he's comfortable being him and learn how he wants things," Aldridge said.
"I feel like that's most important to him being great is first learning him and figuring out the things that he needs. I feel like once they get to that point, it's going to be great."
