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Carmelo Anthony gives advice to Victor Wembanyama at NBA Summer League

On3 imageby:Sam Gillenwater•07/10/23•

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Victor Wembanyama
Ethan Miller | Getty Images

Victor Wembanyama has taken in plenty of advice from around the NBA as the player who many expect to be the next big thing in the association.

The latest came from Carmelo Anthony this weekend at the NBA Summer League. While in Las Vegas making his first appearances with the San Antonio Spurs, Wembanyama crossed paths with ‘Melo, a 10-time All-Star himself, at NBACon and spoke with him in a quick clip shared by the league.

Whatever Anthony said to him may have had an impact on Wembanyama’s game.

In his first game on Friday night, the No. 1 pick had some highs and lows while finishing the outing with nine points on an inefficient nine 2-13 from the floor. He did everything else, though, with eight rebounds, five blocks, three assists, and three turnovers in an eight-point win over Charlotte.

However, on Sunday after speaking with Carmelo, Wembanyama flashed the potential that the NBA is so fascinated with. In a five-point loss to Portland, he went for 27 points on a much-improved 9-14 shooting night from the floor. He paired that with 12 more rebounds for a double-double as well three blocks and a steal on defense.

Again, Wembanyama has spoken to several legends already ahead of the start of his NBA career. As a six-time All-NBA selection and Top-75 honoree, Anthony is just the latest to impart his knowledge upon the 7’5 French phenom.

Report: Spurs, Popovich agree to five-year contract worth ‘more than $80 million’

It seemed like the chatter around Gregg Popovich’s retirement was growing louder over the last couple years. Saturday, he and the San Antonio Spurs appeared to put those talks to rest.

Popovich has agreed to a new five-year deal, the Spurs announced. After the announcement came out, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported the deal is worth “more than $80 million.”

That figure comes in the wake of the Detroit Pistons’ decision to pay Monty Williams a hefty salary. He signed a six-year, $78.5 million contract to become the Pistons’ head coach after the Phoenix Suns fired him.

Popovich, 74, is also the Spurs’ president of basketball operations, and Wojnarowski later added the deal might not mean he coaches for all five years. Instead, he could finish it out even if he decides to move off the court.

Popovich is the winningest coach in NBA history with 1,366 victories to his name. He also has five NBA titles to his name and gold medal as the head coach of the U.S. National Team during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.