SAN ANTONIO — We're hours away from the much anticipated debut of San Antonio spurs rookie and generational prospect Victor Wembanyama. But there are others!
Several other players on the Spurs roster are veterans who have potential star power and can be just as much a difference maker as the number one draft pick.
The possibilities are endless for second year player Jeremey Sochan. Maybe limitless, actually. "He can play one through four," said Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich. "Depending on circumstances and who we are playing with injuries and sort of thing I can see him even playing the five position and us going small." Sochan wouldn't have any problem with that. 'I feel like I'm an all around player so where ever Coach Pop is going to put me I think I will be able to excel and help the team win,' Sochan said. 'So we will see for the first game.'
Keldon Johnson has one offensive goal this season, to be a more all around player. "He looks at who is guarding him, and who he can take advantage of and what is needed," Popovich said. "This year he is intent on becoming a more all around player." Keldon said he is going to continue to do what he does, and then some. 'I'll continue to shoot and drive the ball,' said Keldon. 'You just have to continue to make great decisions,' he continued. 'Offensively, I'll just continue to let it come and whatever my team needs me to be offensively is what I'll be.'
Devin Vassell's season last year wasn't really much to talk about and he took that frustration to the offseason. "I'm not trying to miss any more games," Vassell said. "That was my focus, to just get stronger and get ready for the season." Coach Pop told KENS 5 that Devin's physique has been transformed from what we remember from last season. "He's much stronger, aggressive, physical and confident," Coach Pop said. Devin says he has shown spurts offensively of what he can do. "Just helping the team get wins," he said. "All I care about is winning."
Zach Collins plays with one gear, and that's full speed ahead. What Spurs fan wouldn't love to hear that? "It is a totally different mindset for him," said Coach Pop. "He's one of our most nasty players. You have to a little bit of nasty on the floor and he naturally does that because of his competitiveness." Zach told KENS 5, just time on the floor, after the injury bug that stalled the start of his pro career, has made all the difference. "I think just starting and getting more reps with the long year helped me peak toward the end of the year," Zach said. "Also just staying in the gym and sticking with the process."
The Spurs open the regular season Wednesday night at the Frost Bank Center hosting the rival Dallas Mavericks.
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