SAN ANTONIO — A little more than 90 minutes after Victor Wembanyama put up another batch of All-Star-like numbers in the San Antonio Spurs’ first NBA In-Season Tournament game — a 117-110 loss to Minnesota — the 7-foot-4, 19-year-old stepped behind a microphone at Frost Bank Center proudly carrying a souvenir.

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As the French teenager took his seat behind an interview room podium, he draped across his lap the No. 27 Timberwolves jersey his 31-year-old countryman, Rudy Gobert, had worn on his way to 11 points and 10 rebounds for a team that has emerged as a serious contender in the Western Conference.

He and Gobert, whom Wembanyama has counted as a role model and mentor since the two met in Paris at age 13, had swapped game jerseys afterward as a show of respect that transcends mere friendship.

“I know every night there’s going to be one or two guys who are going to be special to play against,” Wembanyama told reporters who had waited for him to complete a postgame weightlifting ritual he believes will allow him to withstand the rigors of the NBA grind. “But (tonight) even more since it’s someone that, over the years, is trying to take care of me and teach me some stuff. It’s even more special and challenging.”

Wembanyama and Gobert comprise nearly 14-and-a-half feet of French interior ascendancy. Gobert says “I’m a proud dad” watching Wembanyama join him as a post presence in the NBA.

“I’ve tried to be the best mentor I can be for him,” Gobert said. “I’m really proud of him and the way he is dedicated and the way he is working and who he is as a person. I am always there for him, whatever he needs. I always say that watching him succeed truly makes me happy. I have a lot of love for him and I make sure I do whatever I can to help him be the best he can be.

“He’s definitely part of the new generation, and I think he is going to create his own lane, be unique. I’m excited to watch him.”

Gobert was not too excited to teach by example, as he did on Minnesota’s very first possession of Friday’s game. He posted up Wembanyama near the basket, pump-faked the rookie off his feet and dunked on him.

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In his 12th NBA season and just eight games into his second with the Wolves, the 7-1 Gobert looks to be returning to form as the defensive anchor that earned him three NBA Defensive Player of the Year awards in his nine seasons with the Utah Jazz. This is to the delight of Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch, who is happy to see Gobert exhibit defensive leadership after a first season that had Wolves fans questioning the trade that brought him to the team.

“Rudy has really been outstanding, really set the tone for us defensively, which is impressive when you’re a back-line guy,” Finch said before tipoff. “Usually, guys who are out on the ball are tone-setters. His activity has been at a high level.

“He’s feeling better. He’d been telling us all summer how good he’s felt. He wanted to come in and have a much stronger season than he had last year when he felt he was not himself, and he’s really gotten off to a great start. Offensively, he’s doing a lot of nice things, too, so it’s not just one side of the ball, but he’s been important in setting the tone for our team defensively, and that mentality.”

By the game’s end, though, it was Wembanyama who had shown off the skills at both ends of the court that brought him to the NBA as the most-hyped No. 1 overall draft pick since LeBron James. He finished with 29 points (12-of-21 shooting), nine rebounds, four assists and four blocks. Three of his blocks were on Gobert attempts, and one was a rejection of Wolves center Karl-Anthony Towns’ layup attempt.

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Wembanyama’s ability to deter shots — opponents passing up shots altogether for fear they might get swatted — was equally impactful, especially in the first half. This required some halftime instruction from Finch: Don’t let Wembanyama determine whether or not you take a shot.

“I think our guys were a little too aware of (him),” Finch said. “It was one of the things we talked about at halftime. I think guys were considering him just a little too much. If he blocks a shot, he blocks a shot, but we can’t stop being aggressive.”

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Finch seems to comprehend that Wembanyama has the potential to emulate Gobert’s defensive dominance, and then some.

“Deterrence I would think would be just one factor alone where he’s going to excel,” Finch said. “Then, when he unfolds he gets his hands on a lot of things. For sure, he can definitely be an anchor, and I’m sure they will get him to that point.”

Gobert understood fully the reluctance of his teammates to even attempt shots when Wembanyama was present. He has seen it from players on the floor against him, which has earned him the nickname “The Stifle Tower.”

But, one game convinced Gobert the “Wemby effect” would be likely even greater.

“He is already affecting, getting in people’s minds defensively,” Gobert said. “And, yeah, he is going to be a real, real problem. He is already a problem, but I think he is going to be a real, real problem really soon.

“His positioning is way ahead of the positioning of a rookie. You can tell that he is well-coached and also that he is studying the game. That will only get better throughout the year.”

Finch was relieved to escape Frost Bank Center with the victory. Entering the fourth quarter with a 17-point lead, he had watched the lead shrink to five points with 33 seconds remaining. Had the game continued another couple of minutes, he said, “We might not win,” and that was because Wembanyama had authored another crunchtime opus: 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting, four rebounds, two blocks and an assist in 10 minutes, 42 seconds of fourth-quarter court time.

“He’s going to be a hell of a player,” Finch said. “He’s got all the tools. Incredible size to be able to kind of do what he wants when he wants. When he gets stronger and used to the league and things slow down for him, he’s going to be one of those guys that just has incredible gravity, offensively and defensively.”

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The notion of Wembanyama with a full NBA season behind him teaming with Gobert on the French national team ought to frighten all the teams that qualify for the 2024 Olympic tournament in France. Les Bleus are guaranteed a berth as the host nation’s representative.

After the Wolves arrived in Alamo City on Thursday, Gobert and Wembanyama had a chat that included musing about teaming in the low post next summer.

“We’re really excited about that and excited about whatever comes to us,” Gobert said. “We believe we can help this team achieve what it’s never done before. So, that’s the plan, that’s the goal.

“First, we’re focusing on the NBA season, but we know it is coming around the corner.”

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— Jon Krawczynski contributed to this story.

(Top photo of Rudy Gobert and Victor Wembanyama: Ronald Cortes / Getty Images)