3 Ways Victor Wembanyama’s Spurs Need to Do More to Challenge for NBA Title

Victor Wembanyama has been on a tear this season. So far, his performances have not only earned him MVP chants, but his San Antonio Spurs are also 2nd in the league.

Their 5-0 opening stretch happens to be the best ever start to the season in franchise history. Even the French phenom was surprised when he was informed that the dynastic run of the late 90s and early 2000s did not see them start in this manner.

That would generally pique the interest of basketball fans, as the lean center has helped the Spurs usher in a new era where their fans could start dreaming of championships again.

Wembanyama’s length and skills have fans and analysts already pegging him to be the 1st to win MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Most Improved Player awards this season.

It is also fair to think that his team would have to be near the top for him to win those awards. That could lead many more analysts to start labeling the Spurs as championship contenders.

However, the season is just into its 2nd week, and there is a long way to go before playoff conversations can even start to take shape. That means the franchise has to take care of a few things if they are serious about challenging for the 2026 NBA title.

Victor Wembanyama alone cannot lead Spurs to a title

Victor Wembanyama‘s stellar performances have largely fueled this 5-0 run. It is not as if his teammates did not have anything to do with it. Rather, they will need to step it up when the going gets tough.

For starters, opposing teams will be scouting the Spurs, looking for ways to slow down the 7′ 4″ center. Whenever that happens, it will be up to the rest of the team to cover when their leading superstar cannot impose his will.

Championships are won as a team. As long as the remaining players are ready to step up, it should not be difficult to envision a situation where the Spurs are vying for one of the top spots in the West.

In that conference, they have to be on their toes every single week. A game dropped here and there can be the difference between a team finishing with home team advantage or in the play-in spots. The Spurs as a team have to be at their best.

De’Aaron Fox has to return soon to build chemistry

Victor Wembanyama is now the leading scorer for the San Antonio Spurs. However, with the level of competition in the NBA, it is difficult to depend on just one volume scorer.

So far, they have gotten by with just the center taking charge. But when opposing defenses slow him down, it will be imperative that another scorer joins in to draw them away.

That is what the franchise had in mind when they traded for De’Aaron Fox, and also increased his contract duration along with a fat raise. The guard, though, is currently out injured.

Since it is a hamstring issue, the medical team will not try to rush him back. However, the 27-year-old has to get back as soon as he can, as without him, the team cannot exploit its full potential.

Spurs need to think about Victor Wembanyama’s minutes

Admittedly, Victor Wembanyama is only 21 years old, and hence playing a little more than 33 minutes per game is fine for that age. But the organization needs to look at the league’s history before pushing him any further.

Rather, they should start to tinker with ways to bring his minutes down. 7-footers have not been the healthiest players, and the long schedule does take its toll.

The problem with the France native is that the league has no idea how to manage a player that tall with that skill set. Therefore, every day he keeps playing is an experiment.

It would be wise if the Spurs pushed their other players to take over, so that their leading superstar can conserve his health. After all, they need him to be healthy for at least a decade if they are to truly utilize his capabilities.

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