Why the Spurs Are Too Hard on Wawae — It’s Time to Trust the Process

The Pressure Cooker of Potential

Wawae’s been getting roasted lately — and honestly? It’s not just unfair, it’s statistically blind.

He’s averaging 16 points a game, third on the Spurs behind only Foxx and the kid from France. That’s not background noise; that’s real production.

And yes, he struggled early after injury — but by February? His shot was already clicking again. Progress isn’t linear — especially when you’re battling both physics and expectation.

Three-Point Threat or Tactical Scapegoat?

The numbers don’t lie: 37% from deep in a league where most wings hover around 34%. In my analytics model, that’s elite spacing efficiency.

With Foxx, Castleton, and Söhan all capable of pulling trigger beyond the arc, Wawae isn’t just a shooter — he’s the threat that makes their shots matter.

Take him off the floor? You bleed offensive rhythm like an open wound.

Defense Is Not His Sin — It’s Systemic Failure

Yeah, his defense gets called out. But let’s be real: Paul owns PG1 right now. So what happens when you’re stuck with Foxx-Paul-Wawae as your backcourt trio?

Three guards? In a half-court game? That’s not strategy — it’s structural comedy.

The result? Mismatch chaos. And yet we blame Wawae, who was simply assigned to play in a broken framework.

His 1.3 steals per game rank him top 25 in the league — solid defensive impact for someone whose role is defined by spacing and transition support.

The Real MVP Is Next Season’s Roster Design

Look ahead: Söhan matures further; Castleton grows into his shot; Curbelo arrives with energy and length.

Suddenly, Wawae doesn’t need to guard elite wings anymore. He can focus on being… well… Wawae. A shooter who stretches defenses without needing to defend one-on-one at all times.

That shift won’t fix everything overnight. But it’ll finally allow his skillset to shine instead of being buried under logistical nonsense.

Data Doesn’t Lie – But People Do

The math says patience works here. The signal-to-noise ratio favors growth over panic. But fans aren’t algorithms. Emotions run hot when stars don’t perform instantly – even if they’re still improving under fire. I get it: We want fireworks now. But greatness rarely ignites at full throttle on Day One. Let Wawae breathe—let him learn within structure instead of drowning in critique. The Spurs’ future isn’t built on perfection today—it’s built on trusting players through their process.