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Wemby update

The Los Angeles Lakers have the San Antonio Spurs on the schedule for tonight. Missing from the Spurs lineup will be ‘The Alien’ a.k.a. Victor Wembanyama. Exactly where is he you are probably asking, he suffered a left calf strain in a game against the Golden State Warriors on November 14. Since that date, the Spurs have made no attempt to rush him back into action until he is fully ready to play. This week Wemby began practicing with his teammates however it’s highly unlikely he plays tonight against the Lakers.

Although I’m sure the Spurs would prefer to have Wemby back in the lineup there is no desire to abbreviate the calf strain again, the Spurs medical staff wants to approach his return slowly. In between time like many of you I expected play to be impacted with no Wemby in the lineup. Currently as of Monday the Spurs have 15 wins versus 7 losses, this places them in 5th place in the Western Conference. In the standings they are in front of the Wolves, Suns and Warriors as for the Southwest Conference of the NBA they are one game in front of the Houston Rockets. Despite the absence of Wemby for nearly a month “the wheels have no fallen off the wagon.”

Take a peek

Deandre Ayton has been an enigma since his arrival in the NBA. Drafted by the Suns in 2018 it was believed the 7-foot 250 pound center would lead the way to successful seasons which only partially occurred. As the top draft choice that year more was expected of Ayton, after 5 seasons they made a decision…a trade to the Blazers would change the outcome for both teams. We can debate the results of the trade however after two seasons another move transpired, Ayton would agree to a buy-out and then sign a two year contract with the Lakers. The hope with Luka Doncic the Lakers would have an effective pick and roll combo. After an initial adjustment period Ayton has adapted his game to his Laker teammates, he’s done what was expected of him.

Ayton has clogged the middle defensively, led the team in rebounds and scored when his number was called. Joining a team with LeBron James and Luka Doncic it would appear Ayton’s’ “disappeared.” That’s not exactly the case, the Lakers have no requirement for him to score baskets they have a number who can score. The truer test is to determine over the long haul if he is able to improve the Lakers interior defense. The area that is the Achilles heel for the Lakers is their 3-point defense, currently it ranges from 17th to 25th in the NBA. That is the one area requiring improvement and that is not Ayton’s responsibility. The Lakers have only played 21 games as this is written, the bulk of the season remains. If Ayton continues to play at the level he’s exhibited thus far for the Lakers I could infer the signing of Ayton be termed a success. The test of time however is the true indicator.

Someone did it again

They decided to profile NBA players “they believed were busts,” with a few of the names they failed to consider the injury factor. We have no idea if ESPN’s Jay Williams drafted second in 2002 would have become an NBA star. A devastating off season motorcycle accident brought his NBA hopes to a halt, he made an effort to return to the game to no avail. After briefly playing for the Austin Toros of the G-League he retired in 2006. The same statement could be made about Greg Oden, the top pick in the 2007 NBA draft by the Blazers, a series of injuries kept Oden from performing at the skill level most believed possible. There were 4 years he didn’t play due to injuries, his NBA dream never materialized.

Is Zion Williamson in this category yet, the group of unfulfilled promise. Recently I came across a feature which I relayed to you, it claimed the Pelicans Williamson had missed 52% of his teams games…missing in action the result of injuries. We say all the time “Injuries are part of the game” which is true no matter the professional sport. It would appear there are several athletes more vulnerable to injury than others. Of course more games are played including the playoffs however LeBron James has managed a stellar career with no major injuries. Kobe Bryant drafted in 1996 playing a huge number of games didn’t suffer the Achilles injury until 2013. As I often point out there is no medical training in my background so the hypothesis is strictly an opinion on my part, there are athletes who are injury prone there is no way to get around the fact.

“I hate them”

In June 2025, the Thunder won their first NBA championship, capturing worldwide attention and earning applause from most Americans—except perhaps those in Indiana. As the saying goes, the Thunder quickly became “everyone’s favorite team,” though I suspect that wouldn’t last long. Similarly, when the Dodgers secured consecutive World Series titles, Southern Californians celebrated, but fans elsewhere were left disappointed. Many voiced their frustration, often simply because the Dodgers were successful. One fan remarked, “They buy all the players.” The NFL Patriots faced a comparable situation, with widespread negative comments about them, most of which seemed exaggerated or unsubstantiated.

A similar pattern has played out with the NFL’s Chiefs. Their Super Bowl win in 2020 ended a 50-year drought and was greeted with enthusiasm nationwide. However, as the Chiefs continued to win Super Bowls, they became increasingly unpopular outside Kansas City, largely due to their ongoing success. The Lakers have also been disliked by many across the country because of their winning tradition. Even before social media, the dominant “Showtime” Lakers of the 1970s were often resented. Going back even further, it's likely that the Bill Russell-era Celtics encountered similar animosity simply for being so frequently victorious. In the end, it seems fans outside a team’s region appreciate a team’s achievements only temporarily—eventually, fatigue sets in and they start rooting for someone new. No team stays on top forever, so eventually everyone gets their chance to laugh and point fingers at them.

Is there an NBA future

The Los Angeles Lakers signed Drew Timme to a two-way contract, prior to publication Christian Koloko was waived and Timme was placed on the roster of the Lakers. Does he have an NBA future might be the next question asked by most? We remember Timme as that fierce player from Gonzaga University, despite being selected an All American three years in a row he missed the draft. In 2023 he went undrafted and his journey began, first with the G-League Wisconsin Herd then it was the Stockton Kings and Long Island Nets before the Brooklyn Nets signed him for a short period. It was March 2025 and later in October the Nets waived the 6-foot 10 235 pound Timme after he played but 9 games for them. As I indicated other than Gonzaga I wasn’t sure of how NBA scouts viewed him. I almost always will check the negatives over the strengths of a player, the negatives will curtail any attempt at an NBA career. Below is from ChatGPT:

Athleticism/Mobility

Not very explosive; lacks high-end athleticism. @MavsDraft

In some scouting evaluations, his defensive mobility and ability to guard more athletic bigs is a concern. NBADraft.net+1

At the combine, his agility numbers weren’t elite; his lane agility and sprint times raised red flags.

Defensive Limitations

According to scouting, he tends to shy away from challenging rim-drives; he’s more comfortable staying in the paint than contesting at the rim. NBA. He may struggle guarding switch-heavy lineups or stretch bigs because of his lack of lateral quickness.

3-Point / Perimeter Shooting

He’s not a consistent outside shooter. Multiple reports note that he can’t reliably stretch the floor. @MavsDraft+1

His 3-point volume and effectiveness are limited — in college, he didn’t really expand his long-range game in a meaningful or consistent way. NCAA.com