Victor's Vow: Is Spurs' Wembanyama Really Going Silent With Media?

Ideally, the San Antonio Spurs' loudest statement would've come in the NBA Finals. But as they were humbled in the series in a 4-1 rout by the New York Knicks?

They've spent the last four months or so trying to explain the failure.

And maybe Victor Wembanyama is done with explaining.

Or maybe - according to reports - he's done with talking with the media at all.

According to a note by Michael Wright, the French phenom is going silent this year.

"I'm hearing that Victor does not want to talk about what happened in the Finals," said Michael C. Wright on the Hoop Collective. "I'm hearing that he's locked-in. He's locked-in.''

Fine. Nothing wrong with that. "Locked-in'' is good, and a desire to change the subject when the Finals comes up in media conversation is his prerogative.

But, Wright continued ...

"As a matter of fact, he's not even talking to any American media outlets except for '60 Minutes.' It affected him in a way. He sincerely believed the Spurs would win, and he sincerely believed the Spurs were the better team.

"It didn't go the way he wanted it to, but he learned a lot from it."

I'm not sure whether to address this directly at Wright or at Wemby or at both, so I'll scattershoot:

That would be a silly policy that would create problems, not solve them.

The NBA has its media requirements for all players; a guy can give bad interviews (think NFL star Marshawn Lynch's infamous "I'm here so I won't get fined'') ... but not too bad (remember when the Blazers' Rasheed Wallace was fined for his "Both teams played hard'' bit?).

And beyond the rules, the league would work feverishly and persuasively behind the scenes should Wemby ever truly follow through with complete media silence.

The young superstar last year averaged 23.4 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.1 steals, and 3.1 blocks per game and finished third in MVP voting.

He is arguably the game's best player - and among its best and most thoughtful ambassadors.

Additionally, while those Finals losses surely haunt Victor, that has nothing to do with tommorow's game against the Mavs or the Thunder or the Rockets.

Turn the page.

Is this about "punishing'' the media? I hope not, but that's a misguided idea that many athletes misunderstand; when they go that route, all they're doing is punishing the fans who want to hear from them.

This story, and other Wemby-related angles, have created the notion in some media circles that he's "no more Mr. Nice Guy,'' that he's now an NBA villain.

Again, a ridiculous notion. 

He's 22. He's trying to find his way. He's angry about his failures but will surely eventually realize that it's unhealthy to obsess over them to the point that he goes mute.

And most of all? Victor Wembanyama, as it relates to the Spurs and to the NBA at large, is about to become a leader - and both entities need his eloquent voice.