What the Wembanyama-era Spurs can learn from Caitlin Clark's Fever
This is a preview of today’s full, robust newsletter. Want the whole thing, plus every full newsletter three times a week? This glorious prize is within your grasp for just $5 per month or $50 per year! What the Wembanyama-era Spurs can learn from Caitlin Clark's FeverMoribund Indiana stayed ready to build around their wunderkind draft pick. The Spurs need to do the same.Good morning. Let’s basketball. Spanish Ballet; Edouard Manet; 1864 Back before Victor Wembanyama was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs 14 months ago, I argued that the precedent for elite prospects to quickly realize their NBA potential was strong enough that the team should be prepared to win relatively quickly. The strident comparisons were Luka Doncic, Kevin Durant and LeBron James. Heady company, but some of the most high-status prospects this century alongside Big Vic. From that piece:
The argument is that LeBron, Luka and Durant were great enough to lead long playoff runs very early in their careers, and so the team that drafted Wembanyama should have eyes on doing the same if he panned out in the way it appeared he might at the time of the lottery. To say the least, he has panned out. 21-10-4 and a league-best 3.6 blocks as a rookie. No. 2 in Defensive Player of the Year as a rookie. Legitimate voting support for All-NBA as a rookie. One of the craziest rookie highlight sizzle reels ever. (Warning: this video is 30 minutes long, and it’s really hard to hit pause once you hit play.) The Spurs were terrible — unprepared to win anything as a team, experimenting with point guard reps, experimenting with position assignments for Wembanyama, trying to add additional high draft picks to the core while Big Vic figured out the league. Meanwhile, the other high-profile American pro basketball league landed a high-impact rookie as well, and that player’s team has seen some different results... Keep reading with a 7-day free trialSubscribe to Good Morning It's Basketball to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives. A subscription gets you:
|
Older messages
Someone's getting disrespected
Wednesday, August 28, 2024
The West is a viper pit. Most team fans won't need to look far for receipts. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
Hardening the NBA salary cap is anti-labor
Thursday, August 22, 2024
Hottest subject line of the year, right? ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
Is watching NBA basketball getting cheaper yet?
Tuesday, August 20, 2024
The new media rights deal hasn't addressed every headache yet. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
41 players who should be in the mix for Team USA in 2028
Monday, August 12, 2024
After 'The Avengers,' it's time for the program to get back to the blueprint. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
Nuit nuit
Saturday, August 10, 2024
Steph Curry caps a career in spectacular fashion. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
You Might Also Like
Yes, chef
Monday, September 16, 2024
And the Emmy goes to…
The 2024-25 Preseason NBA MVP Longlist
Monday, September 16, 2024
Twenty players with a shot. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
Week 2: September Surprise 🏈
Monday, September 16, 2024
NFL Shockers in Week 2. Texas Takes No. 1 in AP Poll. UFC, MLB, WNBA, Soccer & Much More...
The Premier League, Ranked, Season Two, Vol. 2
Friday, September 13, 2024
William Connelly and I hath returneth with the second edition of our Premier League power rankings for the 2024-25 season. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
The Matchday Preview
Friday, September 13, 2024
The Bundesliga returns! Borussia Dortmund takes on surprise league leaders FC Heidenheim, Bayer Leverkusen looks to bounce back with a win in Sinsheim, & so much more awaits on matchday three. ͏ ͏
Grab your emotional support water bottle
Friday, September 13, 2024
Can't relate to desperation
Fall's 1st Rivalry Weekend
Friday, September 13, 2024
Bills Cook Fins as Tua Goes Down. Yankees Walk-Off Boston, Again. UFC at The Sphere & More...
New Leadership, New Directions: A Fan’s Take on Nuri Sahin & Vincent Kompany’s Impact at Borussia Dortmund & FC Ba…
Friday, September 13, 2024
For the first time since 2021, both FC Bayern & Borussia Dortmund have appointed new managers this summer. I spoke to fans & analysts for both clubs about the new managerial faces leading the
A'ja Buckets & The Sho Goes On
Thursday, September 12, 2024
A'ja Wilson Makes WNBA History. Dodgers Hit Back-to-Back-to-Back HRs. Bills-Dolphins & More...
NFL Power Rankings — With a Kick 🌶️
Thursday, September 12, 2024
Week 2 NFL Pick-n-Rank. MLB's All-30 Day. Int'l Soccer. CFB Rivalries. Caitlin Clark. UFC & More...