Maybe it wasn’t supposed to
happen this fast.
When the Spurs selected Victor
Wembanyama with the No. 1 pick just over two years ago, even the
most optimistic observers believed this would be a process – a
slow, steady climb back to contention. A rebuild, even one with a
generational talent at the center, usually takes time.
But time seems irrelevant when
the player redefining the game is 7-foot-5 with the coordination of
a guard, the mindset of a superstar, and the work ethic of someone
who refuses to lose.
The Spurs are 4-0 – their best
start in years – and there’s nothing accidental about
it.
They’re organized, confident,
and locked in. More than anything, they’re hungry.
“I was confronted with the
possibility of more losing,” Wembanyama said recently after a win.
“I don’t want it anymore, and I’m not taking this for
granted.”
That declaration feels like the
pulse of San Antonio’s resurgence. A team that was once patient
with its rebuild has flipped a switch – and it’s largely because
its centerpiece refuses to accept mediocrity.
The arrival of an Alien
It’s hard to describe what
Wembanyama is doing without running out of adjectives.
After a transformative offseason
– one that saw him train with Shaolin monks in China to improve his
balance and discipline, and later with Jamal Crawford, Kevin
Garnett, and Hakeem Olajuwon to refine his offensive arsenal – the
21-year-old phenom has returned with a skillset that borders on
surreal.
He’s no longer just blocking
shots, shooting threes, and dunking over smaller defenders. Now
he’s hitting fadeaway jumpers from the elbow, using up-fakes to
draw fouls, bumping shoulders into defenders before finishing with
thunderous dunks, and even stepping back for threes with the
confidence of a seasoned perimeter scorer.
The dribbling exhibitions have
become routine – behind-the-back escapes, crossovers into pull-ups
– sequences that leave crowds in awe and opponents shaking their
heads.
It’s one thing for a 6-foot-6
guard to play that way. It’s another for a 7-foot-5 unicorn to move
like one.
This is why his nickname, The
Alien, has never felt more appropriate. There is simply no one else
on Earth doing what he does, at his size, with this level of
fluidity and command.
And yet, what separates
Wembanyama from mere spectacle is that he’s winning. He’s not just
filling highlight reels – he’s dictating outcomes, and he’s doing
it with ease and efficiency.
The Spurs are done waiting
For years, the Spurs were
content to play the long game – drafting, developing, and letting
the process unfold naturally. But this season, the tone has
shifted.
The front office has built a
roster that complements Wembanyama’s strengths, not one that simply
incubates his growth. The message is clear: San Antonio wants to
win around Wemby as soon as possible.
The additions reflect that
intent. Veteran big man Luke Kornet was one of the most underrated
offseason signings — a versatile, high-IQ center who provides
stability off the bench and, in certain matchups, can even share
the floor with Wembanyama. His screening, rim protection, and feel
for spacing have given the Spurs another layer of tactical
flexibility.
Meanwhile, Stephon Castle has
continued his rise after a Rookie of the Year campaign last season.
His confidence and composure have carried over seamlessly, giving
the Spurs another defensive-minded guard who thrives alongside
Wembanyama in the pick-and-roll on offense.
Then there’s Dylan Harper, the
No. 2 overall pick – a rookie who already looks like he belongs.
Harper plays with veteran poise, attacking downhill, creating paint
touches at will, and finding teammates for open looks. His
chemistry with Wembanyama is growing fast, their connection already
producing a steady stream of lobs, pick-and-pop plays, and two-man
sequences that feel unstoppable when in rhythm.
Around them, the Spurs have
surrounded their star with players who fit perfectly within his
ecosystem.
Devin Vassell continues to
blossom into a three-level scorer, equally capable of spacing the
floor or creating his own shot. Harrison Barnes, Julian Champagnie,
and Keldon Johnson fill the wing rotation with ideal 3-and-D
versatility – long, disciplined defenders who can hit shots, cut at
the right times, and have enough on-ball offensive chops for
stretches when needed.
And the Spurs aren’t even at
full strength yet. Both De’Aaron Fox and Jeremy Sochan are set to
return soon – the former adding All-Star explosiveness to the
backcourt, the latter bringing defensive fire and playmaking to the
front line. Once they’re reintegrated, the Spurs could ascend even
higher.
This is the Wembanyama Way
But make no mistake: this is
Victor Wembanyama’s team.
Everything – from the pace they
play at to the way they defend – starts and ends with
him.
He’s become a one-man ecosystem,
dictating both ends of the floor in ways few players can. On
defense, he erases shots that shouldn’t be blockable and alters
possessions before they even begin. Offensively, he’s evolved into
a complete offensive engine, capable of creating advantages from
anywhere on the floor.
There’s a maturity in his
approach now – a deeper understanding of timing, positioning, and
patience. His body language, once cautious and learning, now
carries the quiet assurance of a superstar who knows he
belongs.
In many ways, it mirrors the
Spurs’ transformation. The organization that once defined patience
is now moving with urgency. The team that once hoped for
competitiveness is now demanding it.
And it all stems from
Wembanyama’s mindset. When he said he didn’t want to lose anymore,
it wasn’t just a soundbite, but it was a cultural shift.
The Spurs’ 4-0 start is the
evidence of a young team discovering itself faster than anyone
expected, and it is more than just a hot streak to start the
season.
They’re not chasing moral
victories anymore. They’re playing with the swagger of a group that
knows it belongs among the elite. There will still be growing
pains, that’s inevitable for any young roster. But for the first
time since the end of the glory days of their two-decade dynasty,
San Antonio basketball feels alive again.
And it’s because they have
something no one else does.
A 7-foot-5 alien who moves like
a guard, thinks like a veteran, and leads like a
champion.
Victor Wembanyama has arrived,
and this is only the beginning. The rest of the league should take
notice, because Wemby and the Spurs have arrived ahead of
schedule
