Every Spurs fan should be elated at the possibility of a spectacular season, exceeding all expectations based on one recent example: the Detroit Pistons. I can't tell you how many times I've spoken optimistically about this season, only to have someone tell me to temper my excitement because teams don't normally take leaps that large from one season to the next.
My first question in response to that would be to ask: What part of Victor Wembanyama do you consider normal? He was nicknamed the Alien for a reason. He's one half of Area 51, and that nickname is only possible because he is who he is. Let's not forget that.
If Detroit can take a leap so can the Spurs
The Pistons were last in the league two seasons ago with a record of 14-68. They were the laughingstock of the league, and many punchlines ended with their name. One season later, they went 44-38 and bypassed the play-in tournament portion of the playoffs altogether by earning the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference.
So, for anyone telling me that a 50-win season is out of the question solely because the Spurs only won 34 games last year, as if there is some ancient indisputable text stipulating that up-and-coming teams must hit predetermined rungs on the ladder, I'd like you to take another look at Detroit's trajectory.
And what do the Pistons have that San Antonio doesn't? Their best player is Cade Cunningham. I'll take Wembanyama. There is no other star on that team. Just guys who complement each other well, and that's what this team should have now after the moves made in the offseason.
We also might as well include De'Aaron Fox on the summer acquisition list since he was compromised when he got to the team and barely played over a month before being shut down. The front office made the right moves to add around their franchise star so he'd have everything he needed to lead this team to the playoffs next year, and that's exactly what's going to happen.
Nobody comes into the league and puts up the numbers that Vic has on both sides of the ball. He was described as a once-in-a-generation prospect, and he's already fit that billing. There's no reason to think that he won't continue to do so, so put your fears to bed.
Don't worry about injuries when the only thing that's really happened to him is a rare condition that we've been assured won't pop up again. With Wemby at the helm of a deep and versatile team in his third year, the Spurs are going to kick the playoff door in. It's not going to be subtle.