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Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs walks backcourt during a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center on April 05, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images/AFP/File

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - APRIL 05: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs walks backcourt during a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center on April 05, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.   Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Tyler Kaufman / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Article (news)

San Antonio Spurs v New Orleans Pelicans

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1727771181991AFP__20240410__2147088169__v3__HighRes__SanAntonioSpursVNewOrleansPelicans.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs walks backcourt during a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center on April 05, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images/AFP/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs walks backcourt during a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center on April 05, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. <em>Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images/AFP/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>SAN ANTONIO -- A bulked-up Victor Wembanyama said on Monday leading the San Antonio Spurs back to the playoffs is the &quot;minimum objective&quot; as he prepares for his second season in the NBA.</p><p>The French prodigy enjoyed a dazzling debut season last year, winning Rookie of the Year and more than living up to the hype which accompanied his arrival in the league.</p><p>But for all the 20-year-old&#x27;s talent, it was not enough to stop San Antonio from finishing near the foot of the Western Conference with a 22-60 record, extending the Spurs&#x27; five-year absence from the postseason.</p><p>Speaking at San Antonio&#x27;s media day in Texas, Wembanyama said he is targeting a big improvement in the team&#x27;s fortunes this season despite the likelihood of being a marked man after his debut campaign.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/8/11/paris-2024-usa-beat-france-for-mens-basketball-olympic-gold-1403">READ: USA beat France for men&#x27;s basketball Olympic gold</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/8/11/frances-wembanyama-targets-olympic-gold-in-2028-after-us-defeat-1408">READ: France&#x27;s Wembanyama targets Olympic gold in 2028 after US defeat</a></div><p>&quot;One of the things we talked about with the coach is that I won&#x27;t have a second, third, fourth chance in a game anymore,&quot; Wembanyama said.</p><p>&quot;If we want to win now, I have to be a leader by example first.</p><p>&quot;There will be no more room for those mistakes. There&#x27;s a lot of mental work to do. We&#x27;re going to encounter new difficulties this year.</p><p>&quot;We want to put ourselves in that position of being a winning team, a play-off team. It&#x27;s a culture that has to be established.</p><p>&quot;Bad habits are easier to adopt than good ones. Reaching the play-offs or the play-offs is the minimum objective.&quot;</p><p>Despite his relative youth -- Wembanyama will only turn 21 in January -- the Frenchman said he is relishing the responsibility of being one of the team&#x27;s leaders.</p><p>&quot;I&#x27;m used to leading by example, in the locker room and at both ends of the court,&quot; Wembanyama said.</p><p>&quot;Both tactically and in the team spirit, I want to be, for example, the base of the defense, and also a little in attack.</p><p>&quot;If I&#x27;m up to my standards and I help the team in the right way, I&#x27;ll have a leading role in attack and defense. It&#x27;s something that should happen naturally.&quot;</p><p>Wembanyama, who spearheaded France&#x27;s run to the Olympic basketball final in August, where they were beaten in the gold medal match by the star-studded USA team, has put on significant muscle as part of his preparations for the season.</p><p>The Spurs have listed him as weighing in at 235 pounds (106kg) in team statistics, compared to 210 pounds (95kg) when he first entered the league last year.</p><p>Wembanyama, whose weight increased steadily over the course of last season, said his physical transformation had been gradual.</p><p>&quot;It&#x27;s important  to work in a way that&#x27;s good for your body and respect the body&#x27;s identity, I would say,&quot; Wembanyama said.</p><p>&quot;We really put an emphasis on getting strength and core strength, but not gaining weight necessarily. But weight will come with strength. So it&#x27;s just a result of the good work we&#x27;ve done all summer.</p><p>&quot;I&#x27;m really satisfied with the summer we just had here.&quot;</p><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mUeIfdziohA?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>A bulked-up Victor Wembanyama said on Monday leading the San Antonio Spurs back to the playoffs is the "minimum objective" as he prepares for his second season in the NBA.</p>

A bulked-up Victor Wembanyama said on Monday leading the San Antonio Spurs back to the playoffs is the "minimum objective" as he prepares for his second season in the NBA.

NBA: Bulked-up Wemby eyes Spurs playoff return

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NBA: Bulked-up Wemby eyes Spurs playoff return

Agence France-Presse,

Robin Gremmel

Published October 01, 2024 04:27 PM PHT

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