Jamal Crawford says Gregg Popovich admitted the Spurs may have held Victor Wembanyama back in his rookie year, before San Antonio’s two-year rebuild and trades reshaped how the team uses its star heading into the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks.
The San Antonio Spurs didn’t just reach the NBA Finals with a win—they did it the hard way. On Saturday evening on the road, they closed out the Oklahoma City Thunder with a thrilling Game 7 victory.
Victor Wembanyama was front and center again. He led San Antonio with 22 points and paired it with the kind of defense that keeps earning him comparisons to “otherworldly.”
But for all the momentum now, the most revealing moment may have happened far earlier—when the Spurs were still figuring out how to use a player who looked like he’d already arrived.
Former NBA Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Crawford. who helped Wembanyama develop his dribbling skillset. said he recently heard Gregg Popovich tell a story that stuck with him. Crawford said Popovich told him, “He was like, ‘You know what?. Honestly. I think we’ve even held him back. ’” adding. “He was ahead of where we thought he would. and he’s so unique. We didn’t know exactly how to use him, and we kind of figured it out.’”.
Wembanyama was coached by Popovich during his rookie season in 2023-24. San Antonio wasn’t a good team that year, but the basketball world could already see what was coming. Even with the losses, it was clear the Spurs were aiming at a future superstar.
During that same 2023-24 season, fans criticized San Antonio for seeming reluctant—or unable—to get Wembanyama the ball. Popovich’s admission. as Crawford framed it. adds a different layer to that frustration: it wasn’t just effort or personnel. It was uncertainty over role, usage, and how to translate Wembanyama’s unique skillset into consistent offense.
The contrast is what makes these comments land now. Over the last two years. the Spurs’ front office leaned hard on the combination of NBA lottery luck and roster-building moves. They retooled the team around Wembanyama. and they didn’t stop with luck—there were also savvy trades. including bringing in De’Aaron Fox.
At the same time, San Antonio kept key pieces in place for the long haul, including Devin Vassel and Keldon Johnson, giving the roster stability as it adapted around Wembanyama’s game.
All of that is why the Game 7 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder feels more than just like a series finish. It looks like a conclusion to a process the Spurs openly admit they once struggled to speed up.
When you place Popovich’s confession from Crawford’s recounting beside the Spurs’ two-year rebuild—and Wembanyama’s 22-point. defense-first performance in Saturday’s clincher—the story becomes harder to ignore: the same organization that once wasn’t sure how to deploy its star now has a Finals ticket. and a matchup waiting with the New York Knicks.
Game 1 is set for Wednesday evening in San Antonio.
MISRYOUM Sports News San Antonio Spurs Victor Wembanyama Gregg Popovich Jamal Crawford Oklahoma City Thunder Game 7 NBA Finals New York Knicks De'Aaron Fox Devin Vassel Keldon Johnson