Spurs ready to be defensively "scary" with healthy Wembanyama
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Left to right: De'Aaron Fox, Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle. Photo: Madalyn Mendoza/Axios
Wemby is officially back.
Why it matters: At Monday's media day, the Spurs confirmed that star center Victor Wembanyama is cleared to play this season.
- The former overall No. 1 draft pick, Rookie of the Year and All-Star was sidelined in February by a blood clot, raising concerns about his future.
The big picture: With Wemby back on the court, the Spurs hope to return to the postseason for the first time since 2019.
Yes, but: The team isn't at full strength. The timeline for the debut of rookie Dylan Harper — this year's No. 2 draft pick — is uncertain after a summer thumb injury.
- Guard De'Aaron Fox (hamstring) has been ruled out for the preseason and may miss the season opener.
Between the lines: Monday also marked Mitch Johnson's media day debut as head coach after Gregg Popovich's decades-long career.
- "He's still sharing his mentorship, thoughts, ideas and advice," Johnson said of Pop. "It's my job to set the vision and expectations for the players, and then it's their job to bring that to life."
How it works: Media day is the NBA's preseason stage-setter, where reporters get a peek behind the curtain to gauge summer progress, chemistry and storylines before games tip off.
The vibe: Once again, Wemby commanded the media day spotlight, this time with a noticeably stronger frame after weeks training with monks in China and rehabbing through the summer.
- "I can assure you nobody has trained like I did this summer — this is my best summer so far. I feel better, I look stronger," Wemby said.
State of play: Media day underscored one theme: defense. While questions swirled about lineups and schemes, coach Johnson and the players steered the focus back to making their mark on the defensive end.
- "Our potential defensively is scary," said Stephon Castle, reigning Rookie of the Year. "We have potential to be a great defensive team."
- "Defense is nonnegotiable," Wemby added.
What's next: The Spurs' preseason tips off Oct. 6, with the regular-season opener Oct. 22 against the Mavericks in Dallas.