Hector Ledesma Articles - Page 11

With every week, the San Antonio Spurs’ generational talent Victor Wembanyama seems to match that description. As staggeringly impressive as he’s been in his first consistent taste of American basketball, the numbers he’s put up back up the eye test. Whether becoming the first rookie in decades to score at least 30 points and grab […]

On Friday, an arena record 16,223 people filled the Moody Center. Two nights later, the crowd was so loud that a couple of long time Austin columnists in attendance said they hadn’t heard the two-year-old venue louder. Despite that great support in Austin, Texas for the San Antonio Spurs, coach Gregg Popovich hopes the “I-35” […]

Victor Wembanyama put up another stat line that registers as a once-in-a-season night – for players special enough to produce them. Yet, these sorts of performances are becoming far from rare for the generational talent. Wemby scored 33 points, grabbed 15 rebounds, blocked seven shots and dished out seven assists in a 122-115 overtime victory […]

The San Antonio Spurs and Denver Nuggets set a Moody Center attendance record on Friday. 16,223 fans showed up in Austin, Texas, to watch the NBA’s defending champions face the league’s team from down I-35. Denver took control early and was never truly threatened in the 117-106 outcome. Spurs get warm reception in Austin The […]

The Denver Nuggets put on a clinic in a 117-106 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Friday in Austin, Texas. And while Denver’s best player showed the Silver and Black, including rookie phenom Victor Wembanyama, a thing or two, there is no replicating Nikola Jokic according to Gregg Popovich. “I don’t think anybody can […]

It’s been 11 months since the San Antonio Spurs played in Austin. It hasn’t been quite that long since they last faced the Denver Nuggets, but it has been a while. Friday’s game against the defending NBA champions will mark their first meeting since Thanksgiving weekend. Rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama had the kind of performance […]

The San Antonio Spurs start their I-35 Series on Friday vs. the defending-champion Denver Nuggets. It marks the second consecutive season that the franchise is playing a pair of home games in Austin, the major city that neighbors them to the north. Though rookie phenom Victor Wembanyama has been to Austin, he’s never been inside […]

Perhaps no San Antonio Spurs player has enjoyed a bigger leap in a shorter amount of time than reserve guard Blake Wesley. From a player who’d go back and forth with the Austin Spurs at the beginning of the season to an energetic defender who seemingly throws down a ferocious dunk every other game. “My […]

Most games that end at the free throw line do so with an opportunity that could’ve tied the score. While Tuesday night’s San Antonio Spurs contest ended at the charity stripe, a miss didn’t cost the Silver and Black Instead, it was their only chance. On consecutive possessions down the stretch, the Houston Rockets, up […]

The Houston Rockets bothered Victor Wembanyama into his worst offensive performance since… the last time the Spurs faced the Rockets. Exactly a week after losing to Houston in a game Wemby scored 10 while tweaking his right ankle, the generational prospect scored 13 points on Tuesday in a 103-101 loss. When the two met in […]

In looking to beat the Golden State Warriors for a second time in three days – this time with Victor Wembanyama in the lineup – the San Antonio Spurs failed to match the proud Warriors in a couple of key aspects in failing to get the win. “Consistency, as always. But, I think it’s also […]

The only thing rougher than the San Antonio Spurs third quarter performance against the Golden State Warriors on Monday may have been an aspect of the post-game press conference. At one point after the 112-102 loss, Spurs Hall of Fame head coach Gregg Popovich asked the room, “Anybody have any questions that might make some […]

After losing their last five games against the Golden State Warriors, the San Antonio Spurs have a chance for a second straight win against the Dubs. Two nights after knocking off the perennial playoff contender, who were without Steve Curry on Saturday and have already ruled him out for Monday’s game, the Spurs face the […]

Reserve players in all levels of sports often talk about the importance of staying ready and prepared. Spurs reserve big man Dominick Barlow, though, admitted it’s much easier said than done. The 20-year-old forward was asked if gearing up for Saturday night’s Spurs game at the Golden State Warriors proved easier because he sensed he’d […]

When the San Antonio Spurs face the Golden State Warriors on Monday, Gregg Popovich expects Victor Wembanyama to be back in the lineup. “That’s what we’re thinking right now,” the Hall of Fame coach said following Saturday’s 126-113 Spurs victory without Wemby and second-leading scorer Devin Vassell. Victor Wembanyama’s pending injury return The Spurs’ rookie […]

Up by three points, the San Antonio Spurs had the ball with 30 seconds to go against the Sacramento Kings on Thursday. They ended up losing by five. A key turnover on a pass from Malaki Branham to Zach Collins with seven seconds left that led to a Kings go-ahead bucket proved the difference. It’s […]

Victor Wembanyama is coming off his worst game in more than two months. But that may not have been the biggest reason for the San Antonio Spurs’ loss to the Houston Rockets. While Wemby, who scored 10 points Tuesday night, could have been better, two constant factors that have plagued the Silver and Black for […]

San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama has been so good that members of the media–and even some star players–have moved on from the Rookie of the Year discussion. Golden State Warriors stalwart, Draymond Green picks Wemby to win that award. He doesn’t think Wemby will win the league’s Defensive Player of the Year, though. “He’s […]

Victor Wembanyama’s teammates are just as impressed as spectators, fans and journalists are. “It’s f*****g Vic,” is the phrase San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan used to describe part of the generational talent’s prowess. Then again, Sochan and his teammates are growing accustomed to what Wembanyama is doing seemingly every night now. “I’m not going […]

For most of a rookie season that’s exceeded high expectations, Victor Wembanyama has been one of the few consistent bright spots for the San Antonio Spurs. But recent victories against good teams and improved individual play by several of San Antonio’s key guys have the Spurs at one of their highest points of the season. […]

In a mere formality, Victor Wembanyama is the NBA’s Western Conference Rookie of the Month. In 12 games through February, the generational talent averaged 21.3 points, 10.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, a league-leading 3.92 blocks and 2.0 steals. More impressively, he did it all in less than 30 minutes per game, averaging 28.9 minutes per contest. […]

San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama put up 31 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, blocked 6 shots and dished out six assists in Sunday’s 117-105 win vs. the Indiana Pacers. It’s the latest in a string of performances in which the generational talent has put together incredible stat lines. It’s also not what his Hall of […]

With wins against the Oklahoma City Thunder and Minnesota Timberwolves, the San Antonio Spurs have beaten the top two teams in the Western Conference over the last month-plus. “Yeah, for sure. I think we feel our improvements throughout the season,” Spurs guard Tre Jones answered when ClutchPoints asked if the two victories prove the worst […]

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich has witnessed a clutch player or two over his Hall of Fame career. His superstar rookie Victor Wembanyama may not yet have the moments to match some of the greats Popovich either has coached or gone against, but the generational prospect fits the mold. “He’s not afraid to […]

The San Antonio Spurs aren’t wasting any time after a roster spot opened up following the release of Marcus Morris. The team is converting Dominick Barlow’s contract from a two-way deal to a standard NBA contract and giving Jamaree Bouyea the two-way slot made available by his promotion, according to reports. The 4-1-1 on Dominick […]

San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama is getting his wish to play more minutes, and it’s not coming as naturally as he might’ve thought. “With my minutes increasing, I think I need a little bit of time to adapt to it. I was kind of struggling in the game, but at the end of the game, […]

The NBA Rookie of the Year will be announced two months from now. What was shaping up before Thursday night to prove a mere formality has seemingly taken shape. That is, to everyone but San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama. “No, because there’s still 22 games left. So, no, it’s not over,” is how Wemby […]

With a month and a half left in the NBA regular season, the San Antonio Spurs are on track to suffer their worst season record in franchise history. Showing 11 wins through February, the Silver and Black aren’t on pace to exceed the 20 victories the 1996-1997 team mustered. Amid the struggles, the young team […]

The two rookies who’ve combined to win the Western Conference Rookie of the Month this season meet for the third time in the NBA when Victor Wembanyama hosts Chet Holmgren on Thursday. But it’ll mark the first time they’ll see each other since this season’s top overall pick overtook the 2022 draft’s second selection in […]

Coming on the heels of a game against a team they may want to emulate, the San Antonio Spurs get set for a matchup against the franchise that may have laid a blueprint. The Oklahoma City Thunder, who are right near the top of the Western Conference, visit the Frost Bank Center on Thursday night. […]

The San Antonio Spurs’ annual Rodeo Road Trip turned 22 years old this season. And just as the name of the arena that annually hosts the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo has changed a couple times, so have the team’s fortunes. A stretch that once honed Spurs teams for championship runs now hits low […]

A 114-105 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday ended this season’s version of the annual San Antonio Spurs’ “Rodeo Road Trip.” 11-48 for the season, SA won just one of the nine game games that took up most of February. With that, Black and Silver linings may be hard to find. In fact, when […]

San Antonio Spurs super rookie Victor Wembanyama turned the ball over 43 seconds into the second half. Sixteen seconds after that, he was headed to the bench in Tuesday’s 114-105 loss at the Minnesota Timberwolves. The memo was loud and clear to the man who’s already taken the league by storm with some incredibly impressive […]

San Antonio Spurs center Zach Collins believes his superstar teammate should win one of the NBA’s top individual honors. But that doesn’t mean he thinks Victor Wembanyama will win Defensive Player of the Year. “He should be the Defensive Player of the Year but he’s not…I’m sure they won’t give him every single award but […]

Not that they have a ton of options, but the San Antonio Spurs can tell you with certainty which is their best win of the season. Following a 113-112 victory over a Minnesota Timberwolves team that continues to sit atop the Western Conference, Devin Vassell and Gregg Popovich put it at the top of the […]

Save for two of his last four games, San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell is becoming the continued force his team envisions. Overshadowed for a month by teammate Victor Wembanyama’s stat stuffing efforts, Vassell hadn’t scored less than 15 points since January 15th vs. the Atlanta Hawks. That is, until a loss right before the […]

After posting a rare “5×5” game, San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama followed with 22 points, 10 rebounds, and five blocks in a loss to the Utah Jazz. Such outings are now the norm for the generational prospect and beg the question of how much more he can improve before the end of his rookie […]

Unlike their previous three games against the Dallas Mavericks, Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Lakers, Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs faced a team that’s not expected to make the 2024 NBA playoffs. But like the Mavs, Kings and Lakers, the Utah Jazz proved too much for the “sloppy” Silver and Black. A 128-109 […]

At 75 years old, Gregg Popovich is certainly at an age in which he could be Victor Wembanyama’s grandfather. Heck, there’s a world in which the Hall of Fame coach is old enough to be a freshly-turned 20-year-old’s great grandfather. One thing’s for sure. The San Antonio Spurs’ legendary coach is already making a mark–and […]