Spurs Duo Superstar’s First Challenger Revealed, Anointment Of The Next Face Of The League Looms
Spurs fans eager to see Victor Wembanyama and Chris Paul play together for the first time should mark their calendars for opening night of the 2024-25 NBA season. The team has announced its schedule, starting with a road game against the Dallas Mavericks, featuring stars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. This matchup will also showcase Klay Thompson in a Mavericks uniform, following his major trade from the Golden State Warriors.
Both teams will kick off their seasons on October 24, according to Marc Stein on X (formerly Twitter). Fans can catch the game on TNT, potentially hinting at the NBA’s plans to promote Wembanyama as the league’s next big star.
The first game of Victor Wembanyama's second NBA season — which doubles as Chris Paul's official Spurs debut — is scheduled for Oct. 24 at Dallas, sources tell @TheSteinLine. Opening Night for both teams on a TNT Thursday.
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— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) August 13, 2024
Once a crucial player for the Suns during their NBA Finals run, Chris Paul has now become somewhat of a journeyman. The Suns traded him to the Wizards in exchange for Bradley Beal, aiming to create a Big Three with Beal, Kevin Durant, and Devin Booker. Subsequently, the Wizards sent him to the Warriors for Jordan Poole.
In his single season with the Warriors, Paul played 58 games, averaging 9.2 points, 6.8 assists, and 3.9 rebounds—an acceptable performance. However, after the Kings knocked the Warriors out of the play-in tournament, the team chose not to keep him and released him in free agency.
Now, Chris Paul has signed with the Spurs to mentor the extraordinary Victor Wembanyama, last season’s Rookie of the Year and a Defensive Player of the Year finalist, who eventually lost out to Rudy Gobert. In his rookie season, Wembanyama played 71 games, with averages of 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 3.9 assists.
With 19 years of NBA experience and high basketball IQ, Paul is expected to be a perfect fit for a Spurs team still acclimating to having a superstar. They finished the last season with a disappointing 22-60 record, despite Wembanyama’s standout performances. If Paul’s leadership effectively develops the team, they could emerge as a playoff contender, similar to how he led a young Oklahoma City Thunder squad to the postseason in 2020.
Fresh Changes
Last season, the Mavericks made their first Finals appearance since winning the championship in 2011, but they lost to the Boston Celtics in five games. This prompted the front office to shake things up and bring in new talent, including a significant six-team sign-and-trade for Klay Thompson, who had a tough final season with the Warriors.
Now, the Mavericks are aiming to maximize Thompson’s potential by creating a Big Three alongside Doncic and Irving. However, recent star trio formations across the league have often fallen short of expectations, so it remains to be seen if this bold strategy will lead the Mavs to their second title.