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Tom Orsborn: Bismack Biyombo was blown away by how many of his teammates and others in the organization attended his gala to raise money to ease suffering in the DR Congo: “It’s a different thing when you hear about the Spurs organization and when you experience it. They do things different. They show up.”
Keldon Johnson jumped to his feet to let out one of his trademark full-throated roars after he issued the winning $15,000 bid for a painting of Muhammad Ali by a young Congolese artist at the Bismack Biyombo Foundation's fundraising gala Friday night. "Keldon bids like he plays - loud and proud," the event's emcee, Spurs TV voice Jacob Tobey, said.
Several other players, including Victor Wembanyama and De'Aaron Fox, showed up to support Biyombo. Others in attendance included coach Mitch Johnson and several of his assistants, general manager Brian Wright, franchise CEO R.C. Buford, Spurs managing partner Peter J. Holt and Spurs shareholder Charlie Amato. Wembanayama was one of the first players to arrive. "I actually did not speak to Vic about this," Biyombo said. "I just sent (invitations out) in a group text message, and he just showed up. And the first thing he did was give me this big hug, a full of smile, and I got somewhat emotional and said, "Man, thank you.' ... But that's who Vic is, man."
Johnson said he wasn't surprised that so many members of the team showed up to support Biyombo. "He's been the ultimate teammate, the ultimate leader for us in the locker room," Johnson said.
"We're brothers," Johnson said. "And this is what brothers do. Brothers show up for each other. ... We're a close-knit group and I feel like we're not afraid to show that. We just continue to show our love for each other and show how much we support each other - on and off the court. "...I had a wonderful night, and being able to give back in any way I can for Bis and his people means more than anything in the world to me."
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History could be made this season, as San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama could - and likely should - become the first player ever to win Defensive Player of the Year unanimously. Not only is the French superstar leading the NBA with 3.0 blocks per game, but he also anchors a Spurs defense that ranks Top 3 in defensive efficiency, giving up 110.4 points per 100 possessions.
Comparing Ben Wallace to Wembanyama's cases to be unanimous Defensive Player of the Year is interesting. Wallace averaged more blocks per game at 3.5 to the Frenchman's 3.0, but he played in a much different era, one in which opposing bigs were posting up and trying to get buckets down low. If Wembanyama got posted up more often and wasn't forced to defend on the perimeter as much as today's game demands, there's little doubt he'd be picking up at least another block or two per game.
According to our research, using an archetype-weighted composite score with a team defense anchor bonus, Wembanyama is the top defender in the league this season with a score of 34.5. The next closest player to him in the metric isn't even Holmgren (28.9, third), either, but Holmgren's teammate, Wallace (29.1).
A fight for seeding will do that, too. Last season Oklahoma City had the top seed sewed up by St. Patrick’s Day. This one has been more competitive. The Thunder have been a fixture at the top of the standings but have been forced to fend off the surging Spurs—who have beaten OKC four times this season. “For me it’s made things a lot more fun,” says Gilgeous-Alexander. “You just play longer. Last year I feel like my break from playing to my first playoff game was a little bit too long because I was out the last week of the season because we had already wrapped things up. But yeah, I definitely think we’ll go into a playoff sharper this year.”
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Victor Wembanyama buried a go-ahead 17-foot fadeaway over Oso Ighodaro with 1.1 seconds left to lift San Antonio to a 101-100 triumph over the Phoenix Suns. The shot marked Wembanyama's first go-ahead make in the final five seconds of the fourth quarter or overtime in his career, after missing on five previous attempts, according to ESPN Research. "We know it's not going to be an open shot most of the time," Wembanyama said. "In this situation, you want to wait. If you take a shot too early, whether you make or miss it, you're shooting yourself in the foot because the defense would probably get the rebound and have time or inbound and have time. So, you want to shoot it as close to one or two seconds [remaining]. This way, we have a chance to get an offensive rebound if we miss and if we make [it], they don't have time."
San Antonio is 20-2 since Feb. 1, the best mark in the NBA over that span. The Spurs finally ended their longest playoff drought (six seasons) in franchise history. Before this latest bout with futility, San Antonio had never missed the postseason in back-to-back seasons. "I'm happy for the city, the community and the organization," Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. "To be a part of that process is rewarding." Wembanyama, meanwhile, credited De’Aaron Fox, the first winner of the NBA's Clutch Player of the Year award, for anticipating "what the defense would do, so [he] kind of told me what to do" on the go-ahead jumper that won the game.
Justin Russo: Random factoid: Trey Murphy III is 3 dunks away from being the third player this season to log at least 100 dunks and 100 made 3s. The two who have done it so far are Victor Wembanyama and OG Anunoby. Murphy would be the only player this season to get to 100 dunks and 200 3s.
