Gregg Popovich's years with Manu Ginobili to influence coaching of Victor Wembanyama

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich has coached numerous elite international players throughout his career, and he's getting yet another in No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama.

Wembanyama, 19, hails from France and is widely considered to be the best prospect in the draft since LeBron James.

Generational talents like Wembanyama are able to thrive doing things on the court in an unorthodox and off-script manner. Instead of overcoaching the young pupil from the jump, Popovich will give Wembanyama space to grow and flourish.

Popovich coached two prolific international Halls of Famers in Manu Ginobili (Argentina) and Tony Parker (France), and what Popovich learned coaching Ginobili came to mind when talking about Wembanyama on draft night.

Popovich wants "Victor to be Victor.”

“I learned so much from Manu about that very thing,” Popovich said, per the AP. “You can’t make players into what you think they should be. You really have to understand what they have and kind of capitalize on that because no player is perfect.”

While no player is perfect, Wembanyama is still perceived as being the Spurs' savior and getting the franchise back to its winning ways. San Antonio's missed the playoffs the past four seasons, and now the hope is not only that they get back in the dance, but they go all the way. After all, the Spurs have five NBA Championships during the Popovich era and made the postseason for 22 consecutive years. 

“For me, San Antonio is synonymous with winning,” Wembanyama said. “On lottery night, when the Spurs got the No. 1 pick, I was just thinking, I was feeling lucky that they got the pick. As a franchise that has that culture and that experience in winning and making, creating good players."

Popovich and the Spurs once landed Tim Duncan with the No. 1 overall pick, a selection that changed the trajectory of the team and turned it into a dynasty. It feels as if the Wembanyama selection is every bit as pivotal and that this can lead to the 74-year-old Popovich winning his sixth championship. However, this is just conjecture from the outside looking in and Popovich realizes there will be bumps in the road for Wembanyama as a rookie and he'll be there to guide him. 

“He’s obviously a heck of a talent, a very mature man," Popovich shared. "But just like every draft pick, whether it’s the first pick or the 27th pick or the 38th pick, we have a responsibility to each and every one to try and create an environment where they can reach the best success possible for them.”

San Antonio seems like the perfect destination for Wembanyama to reach his full potential.