Wembanyama revels in safety of Hall of Famers, fans in playoff debut as Spurs top Blazers
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — It has proven almost as difficult to rattle Victor Wembanyama as it is to get a shot off against San Antonio's 7-foot-4 star. Still, if there was ever a time to experience some nerves it was Sunday. Wembanyama was making his playoff debut against Portland for a franchise and city that is longing for postseason success after six seasons of futility.
Spurs Hall of Famers Gregg Popovich, David Robinson, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and George Gervin were in attendance amongst a sell-out crowd at the Frost Bank Center adorned in a sea of bright T-shirts in the team's Fiesta colors. Was the pressure of having the hopes of a city and so many Hall of Famers on his shoulders too weighty for the 22-year-old Wembanyama? “I wouldn’t say weight.
I would say it feels safe,” Wembanyama said. “It feels like if you trip, there’s a lot of hands that’s ready to catch you. ” And that’s how the Spurs feel with Wembanyama patrolling the court.
Wembanyama scored 35 points in a 111-98 victory over the Trail Blazers, setting a Spurs franchise record for the most in a playoff debut, surpassing Duncan’s 32 in 1998. Wembanyama’s 21 first-half points set an NBA record for the most in the opening half of an NBA playoff debut since the league’s play-by-play era began in 1997. “I thought he was ready,” San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson said.
“He probably settled in a little bit later when he made some shots and his talent popped, but I thought he really settled in there at a point when our defense kicked into another gear. ” The Spurs played a video prior to the game that included Kendrick Lamar’s “tv off,” with the lyrics “It’s not enough” imposed on Wembanyama’s highlights. It was appropriate for Wembanyama and the Spurs.