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:
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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. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
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