What It’s Like to Watch Wembanyama Every Day With Sean Elliott | The Ryen Russillo Podcast

[@arammeraz4269]

Quick side note: As Spurs fans we’ve been lucky to have Sean Elliott as our color analyst for over 20 years now. He’s a great analyst with great insight on the Spurs and how they play/run things. Yes people may knock him for being a homer, but isn’t every analyst for their team? Lol. Sean Elliott is a legend 💯

[@WhereIsYourID]

Im a Spurs fan as well and im definitely biased, but Sean Elliott has a way of commentating clear bias without it being too much. Theres a ton of color commentators for other teams that are straight up delusional and insufferable to listen to. Not even when talking about their own players "potential" etc because thats fine, but like when one of their players commits a clear foul and theyre just word vomiting about how it wasnt a foul. Ryan Hollins was bad enough on ESPN, I had to listen to him during our games vs the Rockets and hes somehow even worse.

[@PrinceZirconium]

I've watched every NBA team's local broadcast and I can say Sean Elliott is far and away the best color analyst in NBA broadcasting. I have learned so much about the X's and O's of basketball just from watching Spurs games. Also met the dude at a Kings game last year and he was so approachable and just a stand up guy in general. Love Sean.

[@David-iv6je]

As a guy with a kidney transplant I really appreciate Sean Elliott as a role model for organ transplantation.

[@stocktonfiero5379]

Why do you have to say it like that tho lol. Color analyst.

[@jerrymiemarcus]

A role model for organ transplantation? That's a reach XD@@David-iv6je

[@dwy3r]

Victor is The One. As a Laker fan i was bummed the Spurs landed him, but nothing but respect for that franchise.

[@romainviry3185]

Big memories of epic battles indeed , as Pop would say : sometimes you win sometimes you lose, you go home ❤

[@guillaumeraux]

As a Spurs fan, I always liked the rivalry with the Lakers. It’s David against Goliath a bit but I never felt a particular disdain or condescending vibe from the Lakers franchise and fans. You guys are the most successful franchise in history (with the Celtics arguably) but have always treated us, a small franchise, with respect. Albeit we probably earned it fair and square, but still. The banter and hating is part of the fun, but overall, I’ve always felt a layer of respect behind it from you guys. I appreciate that.

[@samrs2010]

Spurs Lakers rivalry forever man. San Antonio wept the day we lost Kobe just as much. We both are at opposite side of the spectrums as cities and cultures but there is no doubt that the respect is there between both fan bases.

[@Luxfer0000]

Sorry man, I truely have no respect for Lebron at the moment, But the 2000's where very fun with the Lakers and Spurs Rivalry.

[@RicoRaynon]

Na fam we still hate you guys 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 .4 seconds my ass.....you damn well know what I'm talking bout

[@williambillingsford9987]

Had a chance to play 1-on-1 with Sean Elliott when I was in middle school. Absolutely one of the most memorable experiences of my childhood. Great guy and clearly cares about the San Antonio community.

[@jollypasquale]

Sean Elliott is a legend in SA 🤘🏼🔥💯

[@ZigbertD]

The Memorial Day Miracle will live in my mind forever.

[@JB-xh5mc]

Biggest shot in franchise history. It was such a massive moment.​@@ZigbertD

[@maxcrabbe2947]

Russillos exit music is kinda elite

[@bellyjuul]

Try it on 2x

[@r.wood.s]

Russillo is the man

[@dimitrijetucovic1307]

This kid is going to be the best player in the world in 3-4 years.

[@terry7907]

Only if the Joker retires.

[@dimitrijetucovic1307]

​@@terry7907I love Jokić just as much as any other fellow Serb, he will be no match for this kid.

[@loganerb3952]

@@dimitrijetucovic1307lol let’s all just calm down a bit 😂… wemby is a great player but best in the league in 3-4 years is saying a lot 😂… now doubt he’ll be a very good but idk about that that quickly

[@aamador521]

@@loganerb3952 idk, he's pretty freaking good right now and it's obvious he's already picked up so much in his game since the beginning of the season. I think 3-4 years might actually be conservative.

[@tp76ben5]

Wemby on the contrary of most other players is destined to be great since he is a kid so his mind sight is already well developed.

[@rodflo2979]

Like Neil, " He is the ONE"

[@davidhensley7422]

As soon as pop finds a proper pg its a wrap..can see spurs winning a title in 5yr...twolves and thunder as the only teams that could challenge them

[@shilohscrib]

My question is why didn’t we make off season moves when we got Wemby. Could’ve got vets then

[@Convisis]

Because they didn’t know what they had with him. They had no idea how his game would translate initially, his strengths and weaknesses, they wanted to spend a season evaluating him and assessing how well he played with the primary pieces they have. They trusted that he had sufficient mentorship in Pop and that he’d have solid teammate friendships to get him through what was going to be an experimental year. And they weren’t going to make moves that would compromise their flexibility in the short to medium term.

[@younggabriel]

Trusting the process.

[@davidhensley7422]

Wemby=NBA2k ultimate cheat code 🏀 ✋️ 😮

[@jamesmiller5331]

I think Wemby has even more of a chance to make it than other guys because he's not a guy that tried to get to the NBA so that he could go with live the rapper lifestyle. He tried to get to the NBA so that he could be great and uses his time accordingly. I do wonder about some guys that have so much talent but then you hear about how they spend all of their free time and you just wonder what they could be if they focused fully on being a pro athlete at least until they are fully developed if not the entire career. Because all of that money and I love that stuff to do will be sitting there regardless . Why take a chance of even the possibility of coming up a little short? I know everyone under the age of 30 will go ballistic on this comment but it's true.

[@TyDyck]

I totally understand how weird this is to say.... but I hope Wemby has a lot of kids LOL

[@nathanraska4943]

RUDY GOBERT

[@ollytropics1735]

Draft Donovan Dent

[@vincentbaillargeon9139]

Victor will rewrite what crazy stats is in the NBA

[@Anthonydu01630]

I can already see a 60/20/10/5/5 game or some crazy shit like that in his prime, and i think he could average 33/15/8/2/5 at his peak

[@romainviry3185]

Stats will only matter for him if they re coming with wins Says a lot about him GSG from France, we love is demeanour and easy goingness while being serious about his shit 😂 Thanks for making him better Pop, olympics is coming , can t wait to see a Rudy / Vic combo in fiba rules 😈 you ll always find a bottle of wine opened for you in my home Would be an ultimate honour

[@jayjolley9258]

They beat up on him ... he still had 31 13 6 and 6 is effing wild 😂😂😂😂

[@michaelrodriguez9084]

Sean is a San Antonio treasure. I remember crying as a 9 year old the night it was reported he was traded to Detroit. The impact of the Memorial Day Miracle can also not be overlooked. I made a hole in my drywall throwing a remote in exhilaration when that shot went through. Class act and a legend

[@lonmaranadeo5187]

Spurs will approach it methodically, they dont rush things. Just dont rush it just like ESPN and other media wants for their tv ratings and views. Spurs thinking long term and just do it in Spurs way.

[@ronniedeshe5253]

He’ll be the best player in the world in two seasons, maybe next season.

[@mohrevel]

Ronnie, That’s an insane comment…and you’re 100% on target. I also keep thinking-this is the skinniest and least-experienced he’ll be. Imagine if he works as hard as Giannis did on his body and game? 😮

[@perfectpraxiss3559]

It’s insane to say that he is both a top 25 player in the league as a rookie AND has SO MUCH to still learn and develop. Most of it is Mental and decision making and the X’s and O’s but he does need a couple of go to moves in the post and face up and fix his jumpshot drift a little.

[@georgemala4046]

He needs a better team around him to be the best

[@coreyshafarman8918]

The amount of improvement we’ve seen just in this season is already wild. I can’t even imagine what his prime will look like

[@vincentbaillargeon9139]

Victor is a smart kid.

[@laiiididiiir]

Thank you. Wemby is the DPOY

[@anchorpoint5871]

Just to be clear..people will pay to watch him play...how many players are in this category ?

[@KyoshiHonor]

The best colour commentator in the nba!

[@dave210yt]

totally agree! Sean and Bill Land are the best in the business and I've seen (heard) a lot of other broadcasting teams.

[@ibgib]

​@@dave210ytthey have an unbelievable talent for balancing their SA bias with objective analysis and genuine appreciation for the opposition. Phenomenally lucky to have them.

[@siphillis]

The crazy thing about using record to determine Defensive Player of the Year is that, if Wemby was a better OFFENSIVE player, the Spurs record would be stronger and he'd have a stronger case for a defensive honor.

[@abdesselemelhassouni281]

I think that he can be better defensively too (next year). That’s make it even scary

[@MaximusR93]

You gotta understand with that Sochan point guard experiment Pop deliberately wanted to take the first part of the season so the team wouldn’t have hope of winning a lot of games. Not that the rosters, great, but I believe if you start Trey Jones from the start of the year, this is more of a 30 win team. With the draft situation being what it is, we have Charlotte‘s pick, Toronto’s pick, and our own first round pick. Charlotte’s pick is lottery protected, so we’re not getting that. Toronto’s pick is top six protected and they’re currently seventh so we may get that. But we want to get players in the draft that can help Victor right away, so we wanted to get the best draft pick for the spurs. With these other teams picks being a little precarious, we had to make sure our own would be top 3

[@Shortballa11]

Toronto working hard to make sure y’all don’t get it lol

[@MaximusR93]

@@Shortballa11I know dude, they’re flirting with disaster, I think they’re at 7 right now

[@mordecaidrake]

Totally agree... this team has mastered the art of tanking for the last 30 years.hitting the jackpots tanking just enough to maximize their assets a be great for 20 years... 👍

[@ibgib]

Combined with minutes restrictions he also drew media attention away from VW as he was adjusting to his new life both in SA and in the NBA. Extremely savvy man management

[@kevinstar4621]

I’m calling it there’s gonna be a “victor rule” that’s made at some point bc he’ll be so dominant he’s gonna change the game forever

[@Skor9o]

I hope they don’t penalize someone for just being hella lanky lol

[@benhardacre588]

Sean Elliot’s big 3 in ‘99 will never be forgotten … all these yrs later he’s lapping the like of Stephen A & Skip and just about all others for intelligent NBA analysis

[@jackramsden9346]

Everyone in the NBA has talent, a few players have generational talent & even fewer have generational talent and the mind to be the greatest. Injuries aside, he’s going to be top 3 when it’s all said and done.

[@michaelcollins3384]

Leave it to Ryen to cite Chris Paul being indecisive on a play as the justification for Wemby as DPOY :D It's time to move the CP3 love to a nice farm upstate, where he'll have lots of room to run around and tell refs about other retired dogs' untucked jerseys.

[@EmanuelRay3232]

Sean is the best! Really glad you had him on the pod. Ive learned to much from him over the years

[@OllieGpfc]

Vic should be dpoy, he has to do so much for the team on offense on top of his insane defensive abilities.

[@gregorycastillo4799]

David Robinson was selected and two years later Sean Elliot was taken. That’s the way I look at Vic’s situation

[@HahaHaha-km4sm]

Already a top 20 player in the league

[@pg9687]

Sean is covering for Devin and Keldon imo. I understand what he is saying but Devin is 23 in his 4th NBA season and Keldon is 24 and in his 5th year in the league. These are not wet behind the ears new NBA players and haven't been for a while now. As a Spurs fan I am hoping that there is far more locker room accountability than the free passes Sean is handing out here.

[@razkable]

Wemby cares but he doesn't let the losing effect his play....he reminds me of young steph in that way...and jokic...

[@razkable]

tim curry magic russell bird hakeem...these guys were totally team players...no ego

[@TheMilitiaGuy]

The Sochan at PG experiment was CIA Pop's version for tanking.

[@siouxspur]

Sean Elliott is THE BEST analyst even considering the national media, he gives a fair analysis of the team, he's been a fan favorite and loves the city and community. And Wemby is mature beyond his years both as a player AND A PERSON!

[@TheMilitiaGuy]

Spurs are looking to be full of foreign all stars b/c the Euro players are team-oriented, not "look at me I'm on ESPN".

[@callingyouout6073]

Don't forget he's played professional basketball for a couple of years already. Granted not the nba but still professional.

[@Peroriperora]

Great takes and interviews Russilo! Thanks 🙏🏻

[@ollytropics1735]

Id love to see Victor pair up with Lauri and Deni they for sure have the assets to get it done Wizards get Zach Collins 2025 Atl first Jazz get Keldon Johnson 2024 spurs first 2026 Atlanta 1st swap 2030 mavs 1st Spurs get Lauri Deni

[@chrispaul3832]

Jazz dont trade Laurii for Free, OKC before trade line was rummors put 5 1st Rounder Bertans + contract filler ,still Danny Aigne refuse offer. They want build around Markannen, they dont want rebuild 5-7 years or more

[@ollytropics1735]

@@chrispaul3832 then they are silly still a first over all is a first over all may not be a wemby but could for sure be a lauri esque guy. Most important part though is teams love rejecting offers all the time till its time to move on Lauri is on his last year as well

[@Justinrombough]

BEAR DOWN #32!

[@Kevrow88]

The block on John Collins and the block on Finny Smith. Show how ridiculous his defense is. Both Smith and Collins had clear dunks at the basket and Wemby is stuck just inside the free throw line. 1 step and he blocks their shots. No one in basketball is doing that. Go back to the last Lakers game vs the spurs. Austin Reeves short changed a wide open layup because he lost sight of victor and blew a wide open layup. What he is doing has not ever been done before

[@santivalenzuela14]

Victor is amazing but he’s a rookie, I don’t remember any rookies complaining to the refs or being upset with their franchise. Most rookies are just as level headed, it’s not till year 3/4 after getting beat up and not winning that things change

[@brandontingley7059]

Well, wouldn't this play into stats like... defensive on/off, number of shots in the paint per minute, shooting percentage in the paint, stuff like that?

[@TowBro210]

Sean Elloit should be Spurs head coach

[@SharpwithanE]

For the algo

[@vietnam1978]

Looked pretty bad today

[@imizhalooh7181]

Sean sounds different. Is he losing his voice?

[@valis14]

Elliott playing way conservative on this pod. This Spurs team needs a a ton more talent. They should’ve never given him such an inexperienced roster. Look at the other rosters on the top 5 lottery picks of this past year - they all have more diverse & or experienced rosters than the Spurs. And before you say, well, look at how bad say, Detroit is, their records are nearly identical save a couple of wins. Just a woeful, underperforming, underwhelming roster overall.

[@williambillingsford9987]

I wholeheartedly disagree. The Spurs team is talented but super young. All this chatter that the current Spurs youth movement isn't talented is just that - chatter. Vassell and Sochan are clearly capable of elite play. Branham and Wesley are improving very quickly this season as well. That core alone is a sustainable group to build off of and around. The Spurs front office openly admitted to this season being a testing ground to see who deserves to remain on the roster in the coming years. The understanding in Spurs world has been that this coming offseason would be where moves were made, since judging young players before they even hit 22 is often a mistake. Like every other comment seems to say, let this group grow together with patience and the understanding that the goal isn't to be a playoff team in 2 years. It's to win a championship in 5, 6, 7, 8..........

[@valis14]

@@williambillingsford9987 You can't be a championship team in 5 years and NOT a playoff team in 2 years. That's just a tall ask, if not patently absurd. Try this thought experiment -- the Spurs end up w/Ausar Thompson instead of Victor and you likely end up w/a team that's even worse than this one, and certainly worse than Detroit already is -- if that's even possible and most certainly, that's the roster they have. The talent gap is just outlandish. Even Charlotte has an All-Star on their roster. Spurs have some solid pieces in Vassell and Sochan and Tre Jones (who should be coming off the bench) but outside of that group, there's nothing expendable. Branham and Wesley? They barely look like NBA players most of the time. Branham was brought in to be a sniper yet somehow, he's still shooting hovering around the low 30s from 3 in his 2nd year and defensively, from a metric standpoint, is one of the worst defenders in the league. Wesley, even with his improving defense, doesn't look like he can shoot at all this year and for a team that needs shooting, that's just another black hole on the roster to fill. Thankfully, this year's mercifully ending because this team really needs a talent influx. They can't run back the majority of this squad next year. Watch Vic's press conferences -- he didn't even do one last night after that typical Dallas loss which is a rarity for him -- but his body language is bad. Watch, say, the last 5 he's done. He's exhausted, mentally, physically, and the losing is taking a toll. He's saying all the right things and he's polite -- although he's a lot more candid with the French media if you read the transcripts. Spurs really need to make things easier for him next year because again, this year didn't have to be this difficult. They could've had a couple of more cheap vets that didn't cripple flexibility, a team that won at least ONE more game than last year's squad, still have a lottery pick in a weak draft, and not give Vic such an overwhelming losing experience this first year. My guess, and Sean Elliott already admitted this in another interview that was way more candid than this, is that the Spurs overestimated their roster and it underperformed for the most part. It's not just learning to play w/Vic, it's that certain players didn't progress or develop the way they thought they would, and I'm sure he's referring to guys specifically like Branham, Wesley, even Sochan to an extent. Some of these other guys, it's an open question if they're even NBA players like Mamu or Champagnie.

[@leonj301]

We're in such a microwave society .. A rebuild takes time the Spurs also have other young talent to develop and evaluate around Wemby ... They will make moves this off season they may also have two lotto picks to add to the team ... People need to relax it's year one ..

[@valis14]

@@leonj301 Year one? That's the most FLAGRANT myth out there to try and explain away the underperforming team on the floor. The Spurs have been drafting in the lottery since 2020. 2020 - Devin Vassell - Pick 11 2021 - Joshua Primo - Pick 12 (That one worked out!) 2022 - Jeremy Sochan - Pick 9 + two later picks they kept, in Branham and Wesley, who many thought would be consolidated. Keeping them proves they were in the rebuild. 2023 - Victor Wembanyama - Pick 1 2024 - ? Even conservatively, the Spurs rebuild was well in motion BEFORE Victor arrived. Go back, listen to any of the pre-draft commentary on the Spurs and it’s been well understood they were rebuilding, even going back to Vassell’s draft and certainly by 2021. This year is a weak draft and we’re not even sure if the Spurs will get the Toronto pick. Still, because of the Primo debacle, they really need to nail it. If the Toronto pick does not convey until 2025, the only way they’re going to get a shot at a Cooper Flagg or Cameron Boozer at the top of the draft is if Atlanta has a catastrophe and decides to tank which wouldn't make sense for them, since they don't control their pick; or the Spurs are just as bad next year as they were this year -- let's hope not. I wouldn’t bet on the likelihood of either, because otherwise, that Chicago pick is Top 10 protected. Just from a pure salary cap standpoint, be very difficult to absorb 4 firsts over the next 2 years, no matter when the Toronto pick conveys, without making moves. They have to do something.

[@leonj301]

@@valis14 so you really think the Spurs were rebuilding when Derozen or LA were here??? .. Or were they just trying to be competitive?.. I would say just trying to be competitive... Do we think the Spurs were going to build around DJ ??? Probably not ... How about primo nope . The Spurs have been planning to tear this thing down to the studs in hopes to land victor ... They accomplished that now it's time to build around him ... The Spurs are the second or third youngest team in the league what did you expect?... It's taken teams like OKC years to get back to this point among other teams .... Point is you and others might not like it but it's a process I've been a Spurs fan since 1989 I've never seen a full blown rebuild from the Spurs but it happens... The Spurs will be good in time but it's rarely over night .... People need to relax now if we're in year five of the Wemby era with no progress then we have a problem.... Also landing a superstar in the lottery isn't a guarantee so far vassel and Sochan have been very solid ... By the way the Primo situation wasn't the Spurs fault.. We won't know what he could have been ..

[@Risus_Sardonicus]

That beachfront man…

[@rafikz77]

I’m jealous

[@myhumps2730]

I thought Sean still played for the Spurts