Victor Wembanyama learnt about road games the hard way when he played the Clippers and was schooled by veterans Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and Russell Westbrook.
Kawhi totalled 21 points, while PG-13 and Russ each recorded 19 points in LA’s 123-83 win over San Antonio on Sunday.
“They’re my idols, but they’re still my opponent,” Wembanyama said of Leonard, Paul and Westbrook.
The rookie sensation scored 11 points, five rebounds, two assists, one block and committed five of the Spurs’ whooping 25 turnovers.
“I wouldn’t see any reason to be frustrated three games into the season, but it is a learning experience,” he said.
Kawhi was quick to praise Wemby after the game, but addressed the areas he needs to improve on.
“He’s going to be good,” Leonard said. “It’s still early in the season obviously, but once he figures out where he’s going to be getting his shots, and reading defenses, I think he’s going to be good. I felt like he got more aggressive, like a more aggressive mentality as he started this season off. I think you know, he’ll just keep getting better.”
Westbrook was Wembanyama’s favorite player growing up in France and Russ shared similar thoughts to Kawhi on the teenager.
“He is one of a kind, as we all know,” Westbrook added.“He’s going to get better each and every year, during the season, as long as he keeps focus and keeps improving this game, he’ll be fine.”
George called the 2023 number one Draft pick a “special talent and individual.”
“There’s just certain plays that stand out where you’re like, wow, only two guys maybe in the league that can do that,” PG-13 said. “But yeah, I mean, a guy like him, you got to try as much as possible to … but he makes the game difficult. He’s definitely a guy that you got to plan for with the length that he has.”
Wemby and the Spurs’ next two road games will be against the Suns in Phoenix on October 31 and and November 2.
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