The San Antonio Spurs are in no rush to build a title-contending team immediately. But with Victor Wembanyama leading the charge, the future seems ever closer. The 21-year-old Frenchman has already established himself as one of the NBA’s most dominant players. So, even in a rebuilding phase, the franchise knows it can accelerate its plans if he’s healthy and at his peak.
Last season, Wembanyama put up stellar numbers. Overall, he tallied 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.1 steals, and 3.8 blocks per game, shooting 47.6% from the field and 35.2% from three-point range. He was undoubtedly on his way to becoming the youngest-ever Defender of the Year winner. However, his journey was surprisingly cut short by a serious health issue.
🚨 The results are in for Defensive Play of the Year 🚨
— NBA (@NBA) August 10, 2025
Victor Wembanyama earns the 2024-25 NBA Fan Favorites Award for his two-handed rejection at the rim, as voted by YOU, the fans! pic.twitter.com/wcN2GHCRi2
Shortly after the NBA All-Star Game, when he seemed destined to make even more history, the center received troubling news. He was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in his left shoulder. The Spurs, without hesitation, immediately suspended their season to protect his health.
The blow was huge, but it also paved the way for a full recovery. Wembanyama spent months off the court, but now that’s changed. According to insider Marc Stein, he’s back playing full-court soccer in Los Angeles—and reportedly “looked stellar” in his moves.
Wemby looking big 👀 pic.twitter.com/VzB65wjS5g
— BigB👽 (@b_b41208) August 31, 2025
Even without representing France at EuroBasket 2025, Wembanyama didn’t sit idle. In addition to intense training, he completed a development program with Kevin Garnett, traveled to China for business meetings, and even made a special appearance at NASA, demonstrating just how much his reputation extends beyond the realm of basketball
The decision not to compete in the European tournament demonstrates maturity. Clearly, his priority is to be 100% ready for the start of the NBA season. With training camp just around the corner, expectations in San Antonio are that Wemby will be ready to reclaim his role as the franchise’s leader.
The Spurs aren’t projected to win the title in 2026 yet, but the reality is that Wembanyama could change the game faster than expected. If he truly recovers, San Antonio has not only a generational talent but also a real contender to lead the team back to the top of the West. Furthermore, in this new phase, the team has bright young names like Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper to accompany Wemby’s growth in the coming years.
Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images
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wnba A native of Jaipur, Rajasthan, journalist, and a complete soccer and basketball fan, he found the huge interest with basketball by watching videos of Allen Iverson and Tony Parker, but fell head over heels in love with the sport during the Warriors’ championship era (2015-2018). A sports game addict since his late PS1, he’s also passionate about the Eagles, Inter Miami and the Fever. He’s fortunate to have seen all his favorite teams win championships. He also has a special love for cricket and football (soccer), where he is a fan of Royal Challengers Bangalore and Barcelona.
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