Being the hottest new thing in American sports can be daunting. It can be a volatile world where your own fans love and perhaps overhype you, while everyone else — from opposing fans to former players to media pundits — will find any reason to downplay or hate just because you aren’t their shiny new toy.
That is where Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama currently finds himself. Everyday, you can go on social media and find a new hot take from either side of the aisle. It was on full display in just two summer league games, where after a jittery opening act in which he mostly deferred, he was labeled a bust by haters.