By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Victor Wembanyama introducing himself to the NBA during the 2023-24 NBA Regular Season delivered breathtaking highlights, and individual awards, including the Rookie of the Year distinction, but not so much in the win column for the San Antonio Spurs.
The lack of help, especially at the top of the lineup, running the point, was obvious. Turkish Cedi Osman confirmed it in a recent interview. It was far from a secret with Spurs players confessing to struggling to adjust to the unique abilities of the French prodigy during the season.
Presenting the top offseason storyline for each NBA team, Bleacher Report stressed as much, previewing summer tasks for the Spurs. And Serbian draft prospect Nikola Topic was named as a potential target.
Topic, 18, is far from a seasoned floor general, coming in with an immediate impact on the team coached by Gregg Popovich. Nursing a knee injury at the bottom end of his latest stint with Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet lowered projections regarding his ranking in the approaching 2024 NBA draft, which can come in handy for the Spurs. Currently controlling the fourth pick, Topic can be available at that spot, thus presenting an intriguing option for the point guard position.
Wembanyama, 20, averaged 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 3.6 blocks, and 1.2 steals per contest en route to the All-Defensive First Team and the All-Rookie First Team, besides being named Rookie of the Year. More to come, surely, especially with another versatile player for Popovich.