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'It's motivation' | Spurs' Wembanyama focusing on the bigger picture than an All-Star spot

The Spurs rookie did not make the West All-Star team.

SAN ANTONIO — Despite not making it to the 2024 West All-Star starting team, many thought San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama had an outside shot at being named to the reserve squad.

Unfortunately, that did not come to fruition, and the 7-4 Frenchman will not appear at All-Star Sunday's main game.

Last week, the NBA announced its list of reserves for the Indianapolis All-Star game, and Wemby was not among those picked.

"Being selected as an All-Star would have been a great achievement, especially in my rookie year," Wembanyama said following the team's loss to Miami Wednesday night. 

Wembanyama's chances at making it in his rookie season were slim.

The West is stacked with talent, and it is hard to argue that he would have been named ahead of the official West reserves, such as Lakers’ Anthony Davis, Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard, and Timberwolves' Karl-Anthony Towns.

A pair of Kings - Domantas Sabonis and De'Aaron Fox - are having a solid season and were left off the West reserves.

Credit: Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 12, 2024; San Antonio, Spurs Victor Wembanyama (1) in the second half at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports

The West is deep with talent, so much so that Blake Griffin was the last rookie to be named an All-Star in 2011.

But not being named a West All-Star isn't putting a damper on Wembanyama. He is using it as motivation to be better.

 "Of course, it's motivation," he said.

San Antonio will be well-represented at All-Star Weekend.

Wemby will participate in the Skills Challenge and the Rising Stars Challenge. Joining him will be teammate Dominick Barlow who'll be at the G League "Next Up" game during All-Star weekend.

RELATED: Q&A: Spurs' Dominick Barlow discusses making it to the G League 'Next Up' squad

Barring any injury replacement situation, he remains focused on the bigger picture than an All-Star berth: winning games.

"Honestly, my focus is more on trying to win games and getting better as a team than this," he said.

WEMBANYAMA WILL BE PLAYING FOR TEAM GASOL

At the Rising Stars Challenge, the rookie will be suiting up for another former Spurs big man: Pau Gasol.

Gasol will be serving as an honorary coach at the event, and he selected him to be a part of his team along with his French countryman, Wizards' Bilal Coulibaly.

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