Recent comments from Jeremy Sochan highlight Victor Wembanyama’s ability to make his San Antonio Spurs teammates better.

While discussing defensive philosophy over the course of the season after the recent game against Indiana, a San Antonio Spurs win, Jeremy Sochan made some interesting comments.

His most important comment, at least as it relates to the entire team philosophy, was that the team is communicating a lot more on the defensive end, which has led to improved team defense as a whole.

Sochan had glowing praise for Victor Wembanyama specifically, and how quickly Wembanyama can take over defensively, stating “It’s f***in’ Vic” when discussing understanding how to play with different personnel at different times.

The benefit of playing alongside Victor Wembanyama

It’s quite apparent, and it has been for a long time already, that Wembanyama is a game changer.

His overall offensive game has taken a bit of time to gel, as he seems to be coming into his own as of late on that end, but he has always been an eraser on defense and made an instant impact for the Silver and Black.

Sochan went on to state how when Wembanyama is in, they kind of leave things alone and let him utilize his abilities, and comparatively speaking, play differently in terms of game plan and schemes when someone like Zach Collins is in the game.

If a player like Sochan, who is already an established stopper on the defensive end, can speak so glowingly about Wembanyama’s impact on defense, that impact has to resonate even further with other players on the team.

With Wembanyama patrolling the paint, team defense gets easier. Players can take more risks, and the team can be more aggressive.

As they continue to learn how to play together and communicate better, having an anchor like Wembanyama will help for years to come. Wembanyama’s ability to make his teammates better through his presence alone will pay huge dividends for the organization.

Everybody knows how impactful Victor Wembanyama has been this season.

If you have watched the San Antonio Spurs, you know that the 13-48 record has little to do with his production and more to do with the team’s ability to execute consistently. It has certainly been a disappointing season for a myriad of reasons but the future is bright. That point cannot be understated.

People have gotten into the habit of rushing excellence. There is no reason to put undue pressure on a young player or organization who just drafted a generational talent this season.

Not when the organization in question is known for making the right decisions. The Spurs don’t need any advice when it comes to building a winning team, but that did not stop ESPN personnel from making some ridiculous comments on NBA Today.

ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne: “Victor is here and he wants to win… I don’t know how patient he’s going to be (with the #Spurs)… I don’t think he wants to sit here at the bottom of the lottery standings.” #PorVida

#Wemby #Wembanyama #NBA pic.twitter.com/CXKXjFJAaL

— Dusty Garza (@Dgarza888) March 5, 2024

The Spurs know exactly how to adjust their timetable

As fans, it is okay to pontificate about what the organization should or should not be doing. Fan is short for “fanatic.” There is an innate understanding that people will be a little ridiculous with their stances in support of their favorite team. People in the media should be a bit more reserved.

Wembanyama has said on numerous occasions that he understands that winning is a process, and he is willing to go through that process.

He has spoken out in support of his teammates many times. He is constantly lauded for his maturity and wisdom but then accused of impatience, insinuating he will cause the front office problems if they don’t move at a pace to his liking. It is an insult to his character and an insult to a Spurs organization respected worldwide.

There is a reason San Antonio has accumulated the war chest of assets they currently hold. With what feels like a Scrooge McDuck-amount of valuable trade pieces in the form of picks and players, they can move as quickly as they want.

Victor’s rookie season was always going to be about understanding what they have to work with. Now that they have that information, they can move accordingly. Not because of some sort of made-up pressure, but because they are the Spurs, and that means something.