The San Antonio Spurs have made over their roster from top to bottom over the off-season, bringing in several new players. That will hopefully help them end their long playoff drought, but one move may have flown under the radar.
6'10 Rashard Lewis shot 38.6% from 3 when not many bigs were shooting like that. Underrated pickup for the Spurs to bring him in as a player development coach. pic.twitter.com/eyJ8GShCMA
— Josh Paredes (@Josh810) October 2, 2025
The Spurs quietly added former NBA All-Star Rashard Lewis to their coaching staff, and he could be the perfect coach to help unlock star Victor Wembanyama's full potential. Lewis was ahead of his time as a 6'10" forward who could toggle between the three and the four.
He was also a prolific shooter, drilling more than 1700 threes, ranking as one of the best big-man shooters in NBA history. Simply put, he wasn't just a random NBA player; he was actually quite good during his prime. His knack for getting open by moving off screens could be especially interesting if he can teach Wembanyama to do the same.
Victor Wembanyama could learn a thing or two from Rashard Lewis
For someone who is 7'5", Wembanyama has terrific handles. Then again, there aren't many 7'5" players to have ever played in the NBA. Even so, his dribble is high, and he is susceptible to being stripped. In his first two games he coughed up the ball a combined 10 times.
That is concerning, though the Spurs being without De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper resulted in Wembanyama doing more creating from the perimeter. Fortunately, he won't have to do nearly as much creating on the perimeter this season.
Instead, the Spurs should be looking at using Wembanyama in more creative ways. While he has seemingly put more emphasis on trying to score inside the paint and, more specifically, in the post, coach Mitch Johnson should be trying to use him in more pen-down actions.
That would allow him to move off screens and get open for more mid-range jumpers and even threes. He would also be able to put the ball on the floor and attack the rim with only two or three dribbles, minimizing the risk of him losing the ball.
Lewis could be an impactful addition to the Spurs coaching staff
That would be a spicy development in his game, and the Spurs have hinted at using Wembanyama in more screens. He served as the ballhandler in several pick and rolls with Luke Kornet during the preseason. Whatever it takes to free him up for easier shots.
Speaking of shots, hopefully Lewis can provide some valuable insight to hone Wembanyama's skill as a shooter. Last season, he shot a respectable 35.2% on 8.8 threes.
Wembanyama appears to be looking to diversify his offensive game. But if Lewis can tweak his shot and help him shoot at least 37% from three, then it would have a huge impact on his game.
Having a sharpshooting stretch five would bolster the Spurs' offense by pulling the opposing center away from the rim. That would only help slashers such as De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper while maximizing Wembanyama's offensive potential.
All in all, Lewis' addition to the Spurs' coaching staff could help Wembanyama by showing him how to utilize screens and helping tweak his shot. Him helping to do so could have a major impact on the Spurs this season.