Overview
- In the Spurs' season opener on Tuesday, Victor Wembanyama shot 1-for-13 from the field while still posting 13 rebounds and six blocks, a rare low for his offense but a strong defensive showing.
- The Oklahoma City Thunder used help defense and paint crowding to force difficult looks and limit his drives, a game plan their coach said was designed to keep him guessing.
- Wembanyama spent the offseason working on his post moves and footwork, including drills with Hakeem Olajuwon and workouts in Paris, but veteran voices like Carmelo Anthony said they did not see developed new skill sets in the opener.
- Wembanyama and Spurs staff called the result a mental reset, with Wembanyama saying he was overthinking and plans to 'think less' and play his natural game while teammates and the coach downplayed panic.
- The Spurs head to Austin to face the Houston Rockets on Friday, a matchup with Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr. and Kevin Durant that offers an immediate chance to show whether his offseason work will hold up under similar size and pressure.