Spurs Notes: Victor Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox, Keldon Johnson

That mindset has been forged over the course of an unlikely season.

The Spurs entered training camp with plenty of uncertainty. Wembanyama was returning from deep vein thrombosis, De’Aaron Fox was dealing with a lingering hamstring issue, and rookie standout Dylan Harper was recovering from thumb surgery.

Yet San Antonio kept improving.

General manager Brian Wright recently pointed to the growth of players such as Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson and Julian Champagnie as reasons the organization believed it could compete with the NBA’s elite.

Now the Spurs find themselves three wins away from a championship despite opening the season far outside the contender conversation.

Fox looking for stronger Game 2

If San Antonio hopes to even the series, it may need more from Fox.

The veteran guard struggled in Game 1, scoring just seven points while shooting 3-for-13 from the field. Fox acknowledged afterward that he simply has to capitalize on his opportunities.

“I’ve got to make shots,” he said.

He has willingly adjusted his role since arriving in San Antonio, often deferring to Wembanyama and the team’s younger core. But the Spurs will likely need a more aggressive version of the former All-Star moving forward.

His ability to attack the paint and create offense remains one of San Antonio’s most important weapons.

Johnson staying ready

Keldon Johnson’s Game 1 wasn’t much better. The veteran forward scored three points in eight minutes and never found much rhythm.

Still, Johnson isn’t dwelling on it.

“When the game is over, you process it that night,” he said. “Then you’ve got to let it go.”

It’s a veteran approach that reflects the overall mood around the Spurs. Nobody appears interested in overreacting to one loss.

Wemby’s profile keeps growing

Wembanyama’s impact now extends well beyond the basketball court.

According to The Athletic, Nike and other marketing partners continue to position the 22-year-old as one of the faces of the league’s future.

Wembanyama himself has embraced those expectations.

“I’m not gonna give basketball a choice of who the face is going to be,” he reportedly told Nike executives last year.

It’s a bold statement. Then again, confidence has never been in short supply for the Spurs’ franchise centerpiece.

And after one Finals loss, neither is optimism.