Victor Vembanyama sounds on a 2-game losing streak

Victor Vembanyama returned from injury on December 13. If the date is not easy to remember, the event is. That night, his San Antonio Spurs handed the Oklahoma City Thunder just their second loss in 26 games. Wemby didn’t start in that NBA Cup semifinal, and he wouldn’t start in any of them second and third wins against the defending champions in a period of 12 days.

He has since rejoined the starting lineup, and The Spurs lost both of those games.

“When you come off the bench, the game already has momentum,” Wemby said after the 113-101 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. “It’s either going to be fast-paced or physical or we can be up, we can be down. So it’s a different approach.”

From mid-December until after Christmas, San Antonio was sandwiched win against OKC with strikes against the Washington Wizards (twice) and the Atlanta Hawks for five wins over a six-game span, including an off-the-record loss to the New York Knicks in the NBA Cup Finals.

During that period, the Spurs’ generational prospects embraced his backup role.

“It definitely brings a different perspective to the game. And also, it’s just different from how you can affect the game, how the substitutions can affect the game or the reinforcement of a certain player. So it’s interesting.” Wemby said after the Dec. 23 triumph against the Thunder.

At the time, San Antonio was in the middle of a stretch where they have only lost twice since December 5thwhich came on the same Cavs team that also handed them their last loss.

“We have something you can’t teach. Most of our guys are coachable,” Vembanyama said after what would prove the second of three wins against OKC. “And if on the other hand we have a great coach, great coaches, which we do, it can be super useful and grow into something great. We’re trying to build like this, and we’re trying to get even better. And it’s important to all of us, but we’re trying to make it our trademark, so that we can sustain it for a long season.”

How the Spurs adjust to their star returning to the starting lineup seems to be a matter of time.

Mitch Johnson’s look at Victor Vembanyama rejoining the main line-up

Wemby is actually just the latest Spurs star to rejoin a group that plays well. San Antonio started the season without De’Aaron Fox. Just before returning from a hamstring problem, Dylan Harper came out with a strained calf. A few weeks later, both Stephon Castle and Vembanjama suffered injuries.

“Unfortunately, the biggest or best thing is going to be time. Then there’s the approach and the game plan where I have to guide them and support them,” Johnson said of his latest attempt to rally his core.

“Then there’s the togetherness and their commitment to play together and use each other’s strengths to get advantages together and let the basketball and the game find the open man on that possession,” the first-year head coach added.

Johnson’s next move could be among his biggest. Before, it was just a matter of time Vembanjama would stop coming off the bench.

The Spurs hope it won’t take them much longer to get back into the winning column.