The San Antonio Spurs were overly cautious with Victor Vumbanyama, who is recovering from a calf strain, but that hasn’t hindered their upward trajectory.
In the past five games (excluding the NBA Cup Finals loss), the Spurs have held the Frenchman to 20.8 minutes per game as the team remains undefeated.
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Overall, the team has won seven games in a row (excluding the NBA Cup Finals), and on Christmas Day they will face a dominant Oklahoma City Thunder team that the Spurs have beaten twice in the past two weeks.
But what is the upper limit of Wembanyama? What does this mean for the Spurs and the rest of the league?
Let’s break it all down.
Victor Wembanyama dunks in the second quarter against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena in Washington on December 21, 2025. (Photo by Greg Fihm/Getty Images)
(Greg Fihm via Getty Images)
Victor Wembanyama dominated in limited minutes
He averaged 17.8 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2 blocks per game.
These statistics are close to All-Star level, and the average playing time is less than 21 minutes per game.
The 21-year-old is slowly becoming one of the league’s best rebounders in addition to already being the league’s best defender.
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He grabbed 13.9 rebounds per 36 minutes and averaged 11.8 rebounds per game this season in 30.6 minutes.
These aren’t just gifts, either. The 7-foot-5 center works harder than his opponents, gathering inside position, reading the angle of the ball as it pops off the rim, and adjusting his positioning to optimize his chances of grabbing the ball.
It’s another step in a ridiculous evolution as he becomes the league’s most dominant two-way force.
Wembanyama also won. Including the loss in the NBA Cup Finals, he lost only 5 games in total this season, while leading the Spurs to 13 wins in the regular season.
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Fortunately, the team has thrived in his absence, going 9-3 in the 12 games he’s missed, thanks in large part to the play of De’Aaron Fox, Stephen Castle, Keldon Johnson and Harrison Barnes.
The Spurs currently rank second in the Western Conference, behind the Thunder.
What’s next for Victor Wembanya and Spurs?
Given the success they have enjoyed this season, and the fact that Wembanyama will be eligible for a contract extension at the end of this season, it is becoming increasingly clear that Spurs must consider making a move sooner rather than later.
When Wembunyama’s inevitable extension is triggered in the 2027-28 season, it will take up 30% of the salary cap if he falls under the Derrick Rose rule.
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That means San Antonio is targeting a window so solid that you might say their deadline is July 1, 2027.
With the organization still possessing a slew of draft picks, a slew of young players, and even expiring contracts, the Spurs have almost everything they need to land another star.
They seemed to have their defense in place, with Fox, Castle and rookie Dylan Harper all playing well.
They are a little short on the wing and could use a true 3&D threat who sits on the right side of 6-8 and can play both forward positions.
There’s also the question of whether it makes sense to upgrade both guard positions.
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(While Devin Vassell is playing pretty well, it’s fair to raise questions about his long-term fit and role with the team, especially considering he’s making nearly $27 million per season.)
That’s not to say the Spurs should panic and take action. This would be a poor judgment and a poor process.
However, they have to understand the schedule, which means taking calls and arranging them, trying to find the right formula of players to play alongside Wembanyama in the coming years.
