SAN ANTONIO — If any two people could relate to the external expectations San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama is experiencing, they were sitting inside the visitor’s locker room of the American Airlines Center on Tuesday night.

Before the Lakers traveled to San Antonio for Wednesday’s matchup against the Spurs, their first game of the season facing the No. 1 pick in June’s NBA draft, Anthony Davis was speaking to reporters about the expectations of being the top pick in the draft. And the hopes of having the ability to turn around an NBA franchise that comes with that status.

It’s a topic that’s a familiar one for Davis, who went No. 1 to the New Orleans Pelicans in the 2012 draft. And the teammate who was sitting to his right, LeBron James, who the Cleveland Cavaliers made the No. 1 pick in 2003, knows even more about those expectations.

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So as Davis spoke, he interrupted himself to yell over to James and ask, “What [did] you do in your rookie year?”

James replied: “As far as what?”

Davis asked: “Playoffs?

And Bron joked: “Nah, sat on my couch.”

Davis’ ultimate point: “Don’t think that you have to turn the franchise around in your first year.”

He added: “Even the greatest ever to lace them up didn’t do it in his rookie year. So I think you just slow roll it, take your time and each year your game just gets better and better.”

Even though Wembanyama has shined individually, it’s been a rough start to his NBA career from a team perspective.

The 7-foot-4 French big man entered Wednesday averaging 18.8 points, 10.6 rebounds, 2.8 blocked shots, 2.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game.

But the Spurs entered Wednesday on a 17-game losing streak and at the bottom of the Western Conference standings.

“He’s got probably the best coach to ever do it over there with him to help him do all that,” Davis said, referencing Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. “To be in his ear. Just, it’s tough. Obviously a lot of pressure. Pressure on you to perform well from the outside.