THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: After lottery win, Pops' retirement thoughts done for now

Perhaps you’ve noticed that I rarely write about the NBA.

For a variety of reasons (like the Sonics’ departure to a cow pasture in Oklahoma), our readers seem to agree with that choice.

Heading into seven years working at this lemonade stand, I’ve received exactly THREE emails asking for more coverage of pro basketball.

Two of those were requests from Golden State fans who’ve moved up here, and the other was a similar plea from a gentleman who used to live in Portland.

The biggest surprise, I think, is that I haven’t heard from anyone who hopes for special coverage of former Gonzaga stars now plying their trade in the NBA.

Maybe there’s enough material coming from national outlets, including live TV coverage of the playoffs — where Rui Hachimura is still doing his thing for the Lakers in their duel with Denver for the Western Conference title.

In any case …

I just HAVE to break my imaginary silence on the NBA today, simply to discuss San Antonio’s victory in the draft lottery.

That slice of good fortune hands them the talent of 7-foot-4 French teenager Victor Wembanyama.

YOU CAN find all sorts of side stories to the Spurs holding the golden ticket to a young man described as everything from “the best player in basketball” all the way to …

“The best talent God ever put on Earth.”

No pressure, then, Victor.

By all accounts (and we mean that literally), Wembanyama can play defense as a rim protector who blocks out the sun — while handling the ball and shooting from outside like a six-foot point guard.

It will be some time before we truly can anoint Victor as better in the paint than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and more dangerous on the perimeter — and slashing to the hoop — than Michael Jordan.

Let’s wait on those comparisons.

There is no question, however, that San Antonio got a franchise-changer, and when the Spurs’ name was called for the first pick in the draft, managing partner Peter Holt was only able to shout, “We’re pumped!”

The more compelling part of the story is that this lovely luck of the draw should happen to the Spurs — and especially to coach Gregg Popovich.

Pop is now 74, probably will have his own wing in the Hall of Fame (he has so far declined induction), but if stories from some friends and colleagues are to be believed, he has been considering retirement.

No doubt the Spurs organization will be on its collective knees, begging Pop to stick around long enough to turn Wembanyama from a natural force of nature into a dominant NBA superstar.

It’s hard to imagine that the French youngster could have wound up with a better guru.

San Antonio has won titles with other big men who went No. 1 in the draft — David Robinson and Tim Duncan, Hall of Famers themselves.

And if you need another fascinating note to this tale, the Spurs also have become champions with a French point guard, Tony Parker.

SO FAR, Popovich hasn’t said anything about retirement, and now he’s not likely to utter the word.

Meanwhile, Wembanyama winding up in San Antonio was pure serendipity.

The player himself, who competed two seasons for a team owned by Parker, said after the lottery draw that the universe has told him he would wind up with the Spurs.

"There's a special relation between France and the Spurs,” said Victor. “The whole country wanted the Spurs to have the first pick."

More down to Earth, it will be interesting to watch as Popovich and his staff attempt to take this very tall lump of French clay and turn it into something special, indeed.

We know that Pop, who has five NBA championships in his trophy case, is a genius at developing big men.

But the Spurs don’t have much talent to surround Wembanyama at the moment (they only won 22 games this past season), so the prudent thing would be to develop Victor slowly and add the necessary pieces as they go.

Still, this is a great story.

Popovich already has mentored two NBA coaches — Steve Kerr and Monty Williams — and he is revered, even among those with whom he does battle in the league.

Remember that we mentioned the fact that Pop has not been inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

Why?

Pop always has deferred credit to his players, and of the truly great ones, Parker is soon to be the last inducted while Pop is an active coach.

It’s been assumed that Pop would accept being in the Hall once Parker has been honored, but …

Now?

If he helps turn Wembanyama into a Hall of Fame player, Pop may not make it into the Hall until he’s a hundred years old.

And then …

Maybe he’ll think about it.

Email: [email protected]

Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns appear in The Press four times each week, normally Tuesday through Friday unless, you know, stuff happens.

Steve suggests you take his opinions in the spirit of a Jimmy Buffett song: “Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On.”