Victor Wembanyama shows glimpses of Spurs' future at halfway point of rookie season

For a 20-year-old, the future can’t get here fast enough.

San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama is in the unique position of understanding what the future may hold yet wise enough – he just left his teen years Jan. 4 – to understand how important the steps are today.

"I know it’s not going to be easy," Wembanyama said. "I know it’s going to take some time before we can be contenders for a title. I was ready for anything, and I’m still ready to do any sacrifice. I’m patient but not wasting time. I trust us for the long term."

Halfway through his rookie NBA season, it’s easy to see what Wembanyama can be by understanding what he already is. Through 37 games, it’s become common for him to have a 20-10 double-double in points and rebounds with multiple assists and blocks – impacting the game offensively and defensively.

Wembanyama averages 19.9 points, 10.1 rebounds, a league-best 3.2 blocks, 2.9 assists and 1.1 steals while shooting 46.2% from the field, 29.6% on 3-pointers and 79.9% on free throws. He has collected 18 double-doubles and one triple-double.

He has also shown improvement as the season progresses. In his last 20 games: 20.7 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.7 blocks, 3.2 assists, 1.2 steals, 48.7% from the field, 32.3% on 3s and 78.4% on free throws. That stretch includes a 16-point, 12-rebound, 10-assist, five-block performance against Detroit.

The Rookie of the Year race is between Wembanyama and Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren – two seven-footers who play any position on the court. They can score inside and out, pass, rebound, block/alter shots and defend inside and on the perimeter.

The development of Wembanyama is more important than the award.

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The Spurs have taken a cautious and deliberate approach with Wembanyama. His minutes per game are less than 30, and with the youngest team in the league, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has taken a holistic approach. These aren’t your Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili Spurs.

"We've always believed … you have certain standards, you have certain fundamentals that you know have to happen," Popovich said. "You don't want to skip steps whether it's finance or music and sports doesn't matter. So that's all there. What's different is there's more fundamental teaching done now than I had to do when we were a championship-caliber team."

There aren’t many wins to show for the Spurs this season (eight), but that doesn’t make Wembanyama’s performance any less special.

He has shown no signs of being overwhelmed. He focuses on his on-court pregame routine as young fans shout "Wemby!" trying to get his attention and is not flummoxed by the presence of the French ambassador to the United States at a game in Washington D.C. He is polished with the media, answering questions about what it’s like to play at Madison Square Garden, the parquet court at Boston’s arena and the attention he draws.

"It just felt funny how I really don’t care," he says of the adulation. "I surprise myself at how much I don’t pay attention to it, and it doesn’t change my routine, doesn’t change my attitude. I can say I’m built for this, but it’s not what I love.

"I love the sport. I love being an elite athlete. I’m trying to be amongst the best, and the best always have this kind of attention."

His size and length – 7-feet-4 with a wingspan nearly 8 feet – and skill level have made him the most intriguing player to enter the league since LeBron James. He's matching expectations.

∎ He accomplished his triple-double in just 21:02, the second-fewest minutes played to record a triple-double behind Russell Westbrook’s triple-double in 20 minutes in 2014.

∎ When Wembanyama had 30 points, six rebounds, six assists and seven blocks against Portland on Dec. 28, he became the only player to record at least 30 points, five rebounds, five assists and five blocks in less than 25 minutes.

∎ Wembanyama leads the league in blocks per game (3.2) and is trying to become just the second rookie to do that. He is already a terrific defender and may make the NBA’s All-Defense team. As a team, the Spurs have the No. 25 defense, allowing 117.8 points per 100 possessions. But with Wembanyama on the court, the Spurs allow 112.9 points per 100 possessions, which makes them a top-10 defensive team. And he’s able to provide that defense without much risk of foul trouble. Refs call him for just 2.3 fouls per game.

As teams scout Wembanyama, it’s clear they try to match his length and skill with size and force. Getting physical with him and trying to frustrate him is part of an opponent’s game plan. In general, he remains cool even if he would like a few more calls to go his way.

It seems he produces one highlight clip a game, and his dunk against the Boston Celtics has reached 645 million views on social media, the second-highest behind James. It’s the most views ever on the league’s Instagram account, NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum told USA TODAY Sports.

He's not perfect. His 3-point shot and ball-handling need to improve. His 4.0 turnovers per 36 minutes isn't horrible but could be better. But every NBA star had flaws early. It's just easy to ignore or forget them in the shadow of a Hall of Fame career.

"He's going to change the game, 100%," Denver Nuggets two-time MVP Nikola Jokic said earlier this season. "He's already on that path, so … just enjoy and watch the show and let the guy change the game."

Follow NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt on social media @JeffZillgitt