Growing pains for Victor Wembanyama after the Spurs' loss to the Mavericks

The San Antonio Spurs' season opener against the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday didn't deliver the fairytale debut some fans were hoping for, ending in a 120-109 loss.

Still, there were moments that offered a glimpse of the potential of this young Spurs team. Jeremy Sochan and Julian Champagnie shared the team lead with 18 points each, while veteran Harrison Barnes delivered a reliable 17 points on an efficient 7-of-10 shooting night.

Rookie Stephon Castle also impressed, scoring eight points with five assists and three rebounds in just a few minutes and showing composure on both ends of the court.

But if we're honest, all eyes were on Victor Wembanyama – and his second-year debut left Spurs fans yearning.

The 2023-24 NBA Rookie of the Year put up 17 points, but his shooting woes stood out at just 5 of 18 from the field, including just 1 of 8 from long range.

He had four turnovers, some awkward moments at the post and lacked the explosive power many expected. Growing pains? Probably, but Wembanyama isn't looking for excuses.

READ MORE: Spurs lose to Mavericks 120:109, Wembanyama struggles to find rhythm

“It’s a battle,” he admitted after the game. “For me, none of us have really played four games since the middle of the summer. Conditioning is no excuse. I will have different weapons. We need to know when to use them. So the misses are more about getting used to making shots in a game environment.”

The Mavericks clearly devised a game plan to put significant pressure on Wembanyama by sending multiple defenders on him every time they touched the ball. While this may have limited his effectiveness, it is important to remember that one game does not define a player's season.

For now, it's important to view this opening night as a learning experience rather than a cause for concern.

Spurs have a long season ahead of them and Wembanyama will have plenty of opportunities to showcase his talent.

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