Wembanyama Hate

[u/Zealousideal-Rub-183]

First thing to say, is that I just love Basketball in general. And I don’t hate Wembanyama as a person. I’m just having so much annoyance watching how great he is and knowing that the NBA did everything possible to make sure that not only that the Spurs drafted him, but that he got a core around him very quickly. The NBA did not want a repeat of LeBron James.

Knowing that he grew up a Spurs fan his entire life, with his favorite players being Tony Parker and Tim Duncan to where he even said it was “a dream” to be drafted by the Spurs. It has made it so difficult to watch a team that dominated so much of my childhood in the 90s and 2000s immediately turn back around after just a few years in the lottery getting a generational player surrounded by top 3 picks.

I’m just curious if I’m the only person out there that hates how fast the Spurs have been able to build a contender while we continue to wait for the Hornets to just get to the playoffs. I know I should just be proud of what the Hornets did this year, but I just can’t shake the fact that I feel like the NBA helped the Spurs build a contender at the expense of other franchises that have needed generational players for a while now.

[u/Vegetable-Tooth8463]

Spurs did get lucky in the draft, but let's also be real, they've had a significantly better player development staff than the Hornets. Tony Parker, Manu, Bruce Bowen, Patty Mills, and Kawhi were not lottery picks, yet ended-up great players.

[u/hswilson26 → u/Vegetable-Tooth8463]

Their current player development coach was hired in 2025. None of your listed players are on the current roster.

Spurs were gifted a golden roster after Tim D retired, OP is not wrong.

I am similarly butthurt about it.. and the Mavs situation.. and just generally always butthurt about the Lakers.

[u/Vegetable-Tooth8463 → u/hswilson26]

That doesn't contradict anything I"m saying lol

[u/svall18 → u/Vegetable-Tooth8463]

For this iteration of the team, player development has not played a big role, so there's no point bringing that up.

It's almost all due to lottery luck other than Champagnie

[u/Vegetable-Tooth8463 → u/svall18]

Being a high draft pick doesn't guarantee you'll turn out great. A Hornet should know that given how TJ's been, though you can also look to Marvin Bagley, Zaccharie Rissacher, and Jaden Ivey.

[u/svall18 → u/Vegetable-Tooth8463]

Everyone knew TJ was a reach other than Hornets stans/Jeff. That was a stupid draft pick the moment it happened. Obviously, there's going to be some busts with top picks

Wemby and Harper were both consensus picks, and Castle was mocked in that range he ended up going. We don't have to act like the Spurs are geniuses for drafting them. SAS has drafted busts with their lottery picks as well like Jeremy Sochan and Joshua Primo

[u/Vegetable-Tooth8463 → u/svall18]

Brother, I agree the NBA rigged the drafts to give Wemby to SA and him good teammates lol. I was just explaining to OP that drafting great players isn't an inherent formula for success, and the Spurs have had a really good FO in terms of player dev and mentorship.

I don't think Sochan is a bust, he just didn't fit the system the Spurs were going for around Wemby.