Washington (AFP) – On a Sunday when the San Antonio Spurs paid tribute to long-time coach Gregg Popovich, Victor Wembanyama made sure the unbeaten NBA club celebrated a victory as well. The 7-foot-4 (2.224m) French center scored 31 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, blocked six shots, passed off four assists, and made three steals to spark the Spurs over Brooklyn 118-107. San Antonio improved to 3-0 to start the campaign while the Nets, despite 40 points from Cam Thomas, fell to 0-3.
Terence Mann’s jumper lifted Brooklyn within 108-107 with 2:47 remaining, but the Spurs answered with a 10-0 closing run, “Wemby” hitting two free throws and a dunk in the concluding spurt. Without ceremony, the Spurs displayed a new banner among the list of retired player numbers hanging from their arena ceiling that said: “Pop 1,390,” and below a Spurs logo, the words “Hall of Fame.” The banner recognized Popovich’s NBA record total of 1,390 career coaching triumphs and his 2023 enshrinement into the Basketball Hall of Fame. There were five stars across the top of the banner, one for each of the five NBA titles the Spurs won under Popovich’s guidance.
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Popovich, 76, suffered a stroke last November and stepped down as coach of the Spurs five games into the 2024-25 campaign, with current head coach Mitch Johnson promoted to replace him on first an interim then permanent basis. Three-time NBA Coach of the Year Popovich, who guided the United States to Tokyo Olympic gold, spent 29 seasons as coach of the Spurs and now serves as president of basketball operations. This is the first full season since 1996 without Popovich as head coach of the Spurs.
The NBA is still reeling from the arrest of Miami guard Terry Rozier and Portland head coach Chauncey Billups as part of an FBI investigation into sports betting and gambling. Both Rozier and Billups have been placed on administrative leave by the league. Each club won its first game since the arrests last Thursday and returns to the court later on Sunday with Portland at the Los Angeles Clippers and Miami entertaining New York.
The Los Angeles Lakers will be without Slovenian star guard Luka Doncic when they visit Sacramento later on Sunday. The Lakers said Doncic has a left finger sprain and lower left leg bruise and will be reevaluated in about one week. The Lakers face visiting Portland on Monday, visit Minnesota on Wednesday and Memphis on Friday, and welcome Miami to LA next Sunday.
© 2024 AFP
