Manu Ginobili Says Victor Wembanyama ‘Doesn't Need Much' From Spurs Legends

With the San Antonio Spurs battling the New York Knicks for their sixth NBA championship, the legends who played on both teams over the years are showing up to lend their support.

Among those sighted in the crowd for games are former Knicks players, including Patrick Ewing and Walt “Clyde” Frazier, and Spurs legends, including David Robinson, Tim Duncan, and Manu Ginobili.

Ginobili played his entire career with the Spurs, from 2002 to 2018, after being selected with the No. 57 overall pick in the 1999 NBA Draft, and became a significant part of four of their championship runs with one or both Spurs big men on his team.

He offered his thoughts on the newest iteration of the team, featuring the impressive 22-year-old French superstar Victor Wembanyama, and made a major claim about Wemby compared to the other Spurs legends.

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“After you see the type of players that we have, maybe next year, or in two years, but seeing them grow and get together that quick and mature like that, it’s amazing, so I’m thrilled,” he said about the current Spurs team.

ESPN’s “Insider the NBA” analyst, Shaquille O’Neal, asked Ginobili about Robinson and Duncan’s potential role in assisting Wemby to improve his game.

“They come often. They come often to the team, especially in the summer. Once the season starts, we leave them space. They are always a resource … That young man doesn’t need much. He has the whole package. He’s incredible, and he’s so mature for being 22,” Ginobili told ESPN’s crew before Game 2.

While he may not need much in terms of basketball knowledge or skills, Wemby could still use some words of wisdom from the all-time greats who previously donned the Spurs uniforms and claimed multiple championships.

“The Admiral” David Robinson won two before his career ended, both with Tim Duncan as a teammate. Duncan would win three more titles without Robinson, but had star teammates, including Ginobili, Tony Parker, and Kawhi Leonard, who all helped build the Spurs’ dynasty.

The current edition of the team seems to have all the makings of one, thanks to wise draft decisions such as Devin Vassell, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper, which further boost the lineup with Wemby. With this young team’s first trip to the NBA Finals, they are now gaining valuable experience and confidence on basketball’s biggest stage.

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This story was originally published June 5, 2026 at 9:54 PM.