Wembanyama and Paul Set for Preseason Debuts with the Spurs

San Antonio, TX – The San Antonio Spurs are set to showcase two of their prominent players, Victor Wembanyama and Chris Paul, in their preseason matchup on Wednesday against the Orlando Magic at the Frost Bank Center. Both players missed the Spurs’ exhibition opener on Monday, opting to rest following an intense week during training camp.

Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich cited “dings, rest, a little bit of everything” as reasons for withholding Wembanyama and Paul from the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, a match that ended in a 112-107 defeat for the Spurs. Popovich emphasized the rigorous training sessions as a contributing factor to his decision.

Wembanyama, entering his second NBA season, has drawn attention after a remarkable rookie year where he averaged 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, and a league-leading 3.6 blocks per game, earning him the NBA Rookie of the Year title. Meanwhile, Chris Paul, who joined the Spurs on a one-year contract in July, brings veteran experience as he proceeds into his 20th NBA season, currently ranking third all-time in assists with 11,894.

“I’m just excited like everybody else to get a chance to play alongside [Wembanyama] along with a lot of the other guys on the team,” Paul remarked on his debut with the team. “With him, it’s going to be [about] just trying to help him settle in more.”

Additionally, the Spurs have reported that players such as Devin Vassell, Charles Bassey, and Zach Collins continue to recover from offseason surgeries and will not participate in the upcoming game. Blake Wesley will also sit out due to conditions related to his right adductor. These absences will provide opportunities for other players to step up and demonstrate their capabilities.

Meanwhile, the Orlando Magic also face challenges with player fitness. In their previous game against the New Orleans Pelicans, Magic’s Wendell Carter Jr. sustained a sprained left ankle after an awkward landing in the third quarter. He remains day-to-day in terms of his playing status. The game against the Spurs will commence at 8 p.m. ET at the Frost Bank Center.