Wembanyama's Spurs draw first blood against Warriors to close out preseason

Kuminga and Moody acquitted themselves well in the loss!

The Golden State Warriors could not finish the preseason perfect, falling to 4-1 after losing to the San Antonio Spurs last night in Chase Center, 122-117. Finally, the Dubs got a chance to take an up close look at the basketball factory that is the Spurs’ new big man invention: VICTOR WEMBANYAMA.

Keep in mind that the Warriors suffered mightily in the past from the massive hands of Spurs’ giants past like David Robinson and Tim Duncan (not from Lamarcus Aldridge though).

Who can forget a rookie Duncan dropping 35 points and 17 rebounds on a helpless Golden State squad back in 1998?

Painfully beautiful to relive. The Spurs were a dynasty built over multiple decades, and during that era the Warriors were mostly a laughingstock. San Antonioused to destroy the Dubs with the those towering hall-of-famers, making those Texas road games a living hell for your favorite team in the Bay.

NEVER FORGET.

But as the Splash Bros Warriors surpassed the Spurs for league supremacy, eventually sliding their proverbial foot under the Spurs’ fall from grace in what some might have described as manslaughter, a new Golden Empire has been established. But instead of relying on giants to carry the idea (sorry James Wiseman), the Dubs revolutionized the game of basketball by dropping hellfire from beyond the arc with dizzying speed in tandem with relentless swarming defense built on quickness. Small Ball Death Squad, anyone?

That game highlight above is one of my favorite dynasty Warriors highlights btw. The Spurs fell off, floundering at the bottom of the standings and into the NBA lottery. But you knew Coach Gregg Popovich and crew would eventually find their diamond in the rough to claw their way back to relevancy.

Enter the 7-foot-4 Frenchman, Wembanyama. He’s been balling in his first NBA preseason; heading into the game the 19-year old was averaging 19.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, and 1.0 steals in only 20.9 minutes per game.

That’s why the Warriors had to throw their best player Stephen Curry at him immediately to set the tone for dominance…at the commencing jumpball.

Hilarioussss. But perhaps the Dubs shouldn’t have angered this skyscraper, as he put together one of the most jaw dropping sequences I’ve ever seen on a basketball court in the first quarter Behold!

Oh okay so he can stay eradicate an Andrew “All-Star Starter” Wiggins dribble package, block a Klay “League Leader in Triples” Thompson three-pointer, hit threes of his own, finish through contact, and he runs like a gazelle? Not bad.

Wemby finished with 19 points and 5 blocks, but his 8-of-19 shooting line meant the Dubs did a pretty good job of thwarting him from completely dominating the game. Wiggins and Kevon Looney took turns defending him, and they did a solid job of forcing him into contested shots or lulling him into quick three-point attempts (he was 2-of-7 from beyond the arc).

But Golden State has some lottery picks of their own! Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody showed us again that if the Warriors are to have any type of future wherein they’re still dominant, these two youngsters have to be involved.

Kuminga scored 13 points in 21 minutes off of the bench, adding 6 rebounds and 5 assists. He even showed Wemby he ain’t scared to give him that work!

Meanwhile Moody spearheaded Golden State’s efforts to keep pace with the Spurs in this defeat. Mr. Moody scored 18 points in 17 minutes as reserve, with a remarkable +14 plus/minus in his time on the floor. He shot 7-of-11 from the field, nailing 4-of-6 from beyond the arc (a few in desperate situations to keep the Dubs alive) while also adding 8 rebounds, a steal and a block.

If all goes well, Kuminga and Moody will be combining their powers to battle against Wemby for years to come. CAN’T WAIT!