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San Antonio Spurs 2024-25 Season Preview: It’s Winning Time for Victor Wembanyama

San Antonio Spurs 2024-25 Season Preview: It’s Winning Time for Victor Wembanyama

(Amber Matsumoto/Yahoo Sports Illustration)

The 2024-25 NBA season is here! We break down the top questions, best- and worst-case scenarios, and fantasy outlooks for all 30 teams. Enjoy!

  • Additions: Harrison Barnes, Chris Paul, Stephon Castle

  • Subtractions: Devonte’ Graham, Cedi Osman, Dominick Barlow

  • Full roster

Here's everything you need to know for the 2024-25 NBA season. (Henry Russell/Yahoo Sports Illustration)Here's everything you need to know for the 2024-25 NBA season. (Henry Russell/Yahoo Sports Illustration)

The NBA is embracing the Victor Wembanyama era by including the San Antonio Spurs as one of 10 teams on the Christmas list and scheduling 20 more games of the 7-foot-11 French phenom on national television.

Spurs also welcome the Wembanyama era. They viewed his rookie season as an experiment, trying to turn Jeremy Sochan into a point guard on a team full of projects, only to discover that perhaps they should surround one of the most promising prospects in league history with it some experienced leadership, especially on the ball. So they signed the best table setter of his generation.

Granted, Chris Paul will be 40 at the end of this NBA calendar year, but only three starters from last season – Tyrese Haliburton, Luka Dončić and Nikola Jokić – averaged more assists per 36 minutes than Paul did on the Golden State Warriors’ bench. Look at what the 12-time All-Star did in Oklahoma City and Phoenix, where he brought together a ton of young players and sorted them into playoff-worthy outfits.

And he has Wembanyama. The 20-year-old can be devastating from anywhere on the court, especially when he’s consistent with his 3-point shooting, and Paul can find him anywhere. At the very least, it will be fun to see the NBA try to prevent the many possible outcomes of a pick-and-roll partnership between a Hall of Fame point guard and the man with the most upside in NBA history.

And it will be fascinating to see if Wembanyama can consistently reward his opponents from all angles. He’s already the game’s most devastating defensive force. In the final month of last season, he averaged 24.1 points, 12.1 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 4.4 blocks in just 33.1 minutes per game while shooting just 44.9% from the field and 30, 1% shot from deep. It’s scary to imagine the possibilities as its efficiency increases.

We have a proof of concept. At the Olympics, Wembanyama single-handedly kept France in the gold medal game against Team USA. In other words, against one of the greatest lineups of talent the game has ever seen, Wembanyama was practically enough on his own. He will give the Spurs a chance every night.

They weren’t ready to take advantage of those opportunities last season. San Antonio is not without talent. Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson and Sochan headline an unannounced under-25 group. No. 4 overall draft pick Stephon Castle, who led UConn to its second straight NCAA title last season, will join them. Each of them can create something for themselves and others and defend several positions.

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San Antonio is counting on Harrison Barnes to bring the same level of professionalism to his wings that Paul does at the point guard position. Once the youngest member of Golden State’s death lineup, Barnes has since developed into a skilled steward, helping the Sacramento Kings regain prominence. He has a career long-range shooting percentage of 37.9% and has rarely deviated far from that mark in his 12 seasons.

Is that enough to make a splash in a crowded Western Conference? That will depend on how well Wembanyama is prepared to be in the international spotlight. At some point, he will guarantee the Spurs a spot in the playoffs. Have we reached this point so quickly? When Wembanyama shared the court with a competent point guard last season, the Spurs outscored their opponents by 5.2 points per 100 possessions, a better net rating than the 50-win New York Knicks. Step up Paul, add Barnes and introduce Castle, and maybe – just maybe – they’ll keep the pace Wembanyama sets for them for a whole season.

Wembanyama comes as a real superstar. Paul remains healthy and is committed to mentoring another young core. With the rotation now making sense, San Antonio’s young players can focus on the roles in which they excel. They understand how to complement Wembanyama and carry out their tasks more efficiently. He returns the favor and the Spurs are in the hunt for a play-in spot.

Even a worst-case scenario isn’t so bad when Wembanyama is at the top of the list. Maybe he’s still exploring the extent of his abilities. Perhaps his young teammates will only really come to grips with their roles once he fully realizes his role as a paradigm-shifting creature. Perhaps Paul can no longer endure the rigors of a full NBA season and the Spurs will experiment again at point guard. Maybe team success is still a year away. What then? They provide another lottery pick to place alongside Wembanyama for next year’s arrival.

If you’re lucky enough to get the first overall pick in your fantasy drafts, take Wemby. The Spurs’ signing of future Hall-of-Famer Chris Paul elevates the floor for all of their players. If you’re looking for assists and steals in the later rounds, CP3 is an underrated option in the ninth round. Unfortunately, Devin Vassell is unavailable due to a foot injury and will not be evaluated again until November 1st. He’s a risky pick in the seventh round, but if he falls beyond that, he could be an excellent temporary draft and stash player.

There is a late intrigue with Jeremy Sochan. While the point guard experiment didn’t work last season, it was a learning moment that allowed him to initiate the offense. This is important for fantasy as I can see a bit of Aaron Gordon in him. He’ll be a good rebounder and facilitator from the dunker spot, and I’m confident he’ll exceed his 12th-round ADP by playing 30 minutes a night. — Dan Titus

Believe in Wembanyama’s rise. Believe in his Spurs. Take control.