SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio Spurs continue to incorporate boxing as part of their offseason player fitness regiment and look to San Antonio's boxing champ Jesse James Leija to get the job done.
As in past offseasons, the Spurs recruited the former WBC super featherweight belt holder to train players ahead during training camp.
And this offseason is no different.
To help break in the new Victory Performance Center, Leija and his crew continued to work on the player's fitness needs.
Most of the players gathered in a corner of the new facility, put on the boxing gloves, and went to work throwing jabs.
But it was a pair of Spurs who stood out according to Leija: Zach Collins and rookie Sidy Cissoko.
"Today, Zach Collins and the guy from France, Sidy," Leija said.
And perhaps boxing will keep that "nastiness" on the court at a high level not just for Collins and Cissoko, but for the rest of the team.
Especially when it comes to protecting rookie Victor Wembanyama from the opposition who may want to push the envelope on the court with him when the regular season begins.
“There are going to be some people that want to try him this year. Try to bully him. We got his back," Johnson said recently following practice. "If I feel like there is any situation where they are trying to go after him, I will be there.”
"Zach is aggressive," he said.
Wembanyama has sparred with the local boxing legend as part of his offseason training.
In August, Leija tested the 19-year-old and he passed with flying colors.
"He picked it up so fast. Very athletic," Leija said. "Victor on his first day was amazing."
RELATED: 'I was impressed' | San Antonio boxing champ impressed with Spurs' Wembanyama's boxing skills
For over a decade, the Spurs have turned to Leija to get the players in peak physical condition.
Whether it is in the Spurs' training facility or Leija's gym "Leija Boxing Fitness", the pro boxer has put players through the gauntlet of boxing sessions.
Some past Spurs who have impressed Leija in the ring are Lonnie Walker IV, Keldon Johnson, and Luka Samanic.
But with Wembanyama, he was equally impressed.
"I was impressed with how fast he picked up boxing," said Leija.
Leija says the current crop of players are pretty good with the gloves and all are good athletes.
But his time with the team is likely done for the season.
Leija says his team usually stops working with the Spurs when the regular season begins.
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