Victor Wembanyama is emerging as one of the best players in the NBA, and his rapid ascent has the San Antonio Spurs in a prime position to make their first postseason appearance since 2019.
With Victor Wembanyama in the lineup, the San Antonio Spurs are a solid 8-4 on the season. Without him, they are a perfect 3-0, although they are hoping their two-way star will make a speedy recovery.
To kick off his third season, Wembanyama unveiled a new level of aggression, putting the Dallas Mavericks on notice. His 40-point, 15-rebound, three-block season debut proved to the rest of the league that the Spurs' in-state rival was lacking in several departments, and the Mavericks are yet to fully recover from that demoralizing showdown.
Since being drafted first overall in 2023, Wembanyama hasn't been put in a position to play winning basketball. The Spurs haven't made the playoffs since 2019, only coming close a few times.
For a legendary franchise, "coming close" is unacceptable. Even in this season's crowded Western Conference, the Spurs were expected to take a massive step forward. So far this season, they have.
Wembanyama's stellar play is to thank for that.
"The Spurs, to me, if they make the top six, will have done great," said ESPN's Brian Windhorst on the Hoop Collective podcast. "And if you can get Victor for sure into a playoff setting, that's great. I wasn't sure at the start of the season that they were going to be a top-six team. I thought they would be a play-in team, which I think would still be a step forward. And then Victor decided he was going to turn into half man, half Wilt Chamberlain going to the basket."
While Chamberlain isn't regarded as the greatest player ever, his dominance in the 1960s is regarded with mythical status. Players like LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Magic Johnson have had prospects compared to them. Wilt, however, is reserved for truly special players with eye-popping skills.
This season, Wemby is averaging 26.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 3.6 blocks. Of course, there is concern that he won't reach the 65-game threshold for individual awards, but the fact of the matter is that he's managed to combine Chamberlain's offensive dominance with the defensive prowess of Hakeem Olajuwon. For good measure, he's a league-average shooter from deep, as well.
In recent seasons, the expectations for the San Antonio Spurs have been low. For the first time in many years, the Spurs entered the campaign with hope of a playoff appearance. With Wembanyama playing at an MVP-level and the Spurs able to stay afloat without him, the sixth seed (or higher!) is certainly within their grasp.