Stephen A. Needs to Pump the Brakes on Wemby's Title Hopes

Look, I get it. We all love a good hyperbolic take, especially when it comes from the king of them himself, Stephen A. Smith. Hearing him declare Victor Wembanyama can "win it all this year" with the Spurs? That's peak Stephen A. — an instant soundbite, something to get the people talking. And, credit where it’s due, Wemby *is* special. He's undeniably the most exciting young talent we've seen since LeBron James, maybe even more so given his unique skillset.

But let's be real. "Win it all this year" is a bridge too far, even for a talent like Wembanyama. The Spurs finished the 2023-24 season with a 22-60 record. That’s not just bad; it’s the fifth-worst record in the league. They won 22 games. Twenty-two. Even with Wemby's incredible rookie season – 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and a league-leading 3.6 blocks per game – that team still found ways to lose. They dropped their first five games of the season, and later endured an 18-game losing streak from November 5 to December 15. You don't just flip a switch from that kind of futility to hoisting the Larry O'Brien trophy.

**The Reality of Roster Construction**

Here's the thing: Wembanyama isn't playing alongside a bunch of scrubs, but he's also not surrounded by All-Stars. Devin Vassell had a career year, averaging 19.5 points, and Keldon Johnson chipped in 15.7. Jeremy Sochan showed flashes. But none of those guys are true second options on a championship contender. The Spurs offense, even with Wemby's brilliance, often looked disjointed. They ranked 26th in offensive rating last season. Their defense was better, 21st in the league, largely due to Wemby's rim protection, but still far from elite. Winning a title requires a top-tier offense *and* defense, plus a deep bench. The current Spurs have none of that.

Remember the 2003 Spurs? Tim Duncan had David Robinson, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, and a whole roster of vets. The 1999 team? Duncan and Robinson were both in their primes. Even the 2014 squad had a deep, experienced roster perfectly built around Duncan's declining athleticism. Gregg Popovich is a genius, the greatest coach of his generation, but he's not a magician. He can't conjure a championship contender out of thin air, especially not in a Western Conference loaded with legitimate threats. The Nuggets, led by Nikola Jokic, are still the defending champions. The Thunder just won 57 games. The Mavericks, Timberwolves, and Clippers all have rosters capable of making deep playoff runs. Jumping all those teams in one offseason, even with Wemby playing at an MVP level, is asking for too much.

Stephen A. is probably looking at Wemby's historic stat lines — like his 5x5 game against the Lakers on February 23 (27 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists, 5 steals, 5 blocks) or his 40-point, 20-rebound masterpiece against the Knicks on March 29. Those games are jaw-dropping. They point to a future where Wemby *will* eventually lead a team to a title, probably multiple titles. But "this year" implies the 2024-25 season, which is just way too soon for a team still figuring out its identity and chemistry. They need another star, or two, and a few years of seasoning for their young core.

My hot take? The Spurs will make the play-in tournament next season, maybe even snag a 7th or 8th seed outright. But if you think they’re getting past the first round of the playoffs, you’re letting Stephen A.’s bluster cloud your judgment.

Bold prediction: The Spurs won't make it past the second round of the playoffs for at least another two seasons.