Wemby vs. Edwards: A Duel That’s Already Must-See TV
If you tuned into Spurs vs. Timberwolves expecting a regular midseason clash, you got something much more electric - a duel between two of the league’s brightest young stars, each pushing the other to new heights. And if Anthony Edwards and Victor Wembanyama have it their way, this is just the beginning.
Edwards, already a three-time All-Star at just 24, turned in a career night in San Antonio, dropping a jaw-dropping 55 points in a narrow 126-123 loss. That included a blistering 26-point fourth quarter, where he looked nearly unstoppable.
But Wembanyama wasn’t just watching - he was answering. The Spurs’ franchise cornerstone poured in 12 of his 39 points in that same final period, trading buckets with Edwards in a back-and-forth that had the feel of a playoff showdown.
And Edwards? He loved every second of it.
“I wish we could have just moved everybody out the way and just checked up. Me versus him.”
That’s not trash talk - that’s respect. And Wembanyama recognized it immediately.
“It’s a show of respect and also of progress; of stepping up because now the standings make it so that we are a respectable team.”
Wemby’s right - the Spurs aren’t just a young, rebuilding squad anymore. They’re sitting second in the Western Conference at 29-13, a position they’ve held for several weeks. And while the Timberwolves have handed them two of those 13 losses, San Antonio finally got one back in this thriller, handing Minnesota (27-16) their first loss to the Spurs this season.
But beyond the standings, what’s emerging is a compelling rivalry - not between teams, but between two young stars who aren’t afraid to go at each other and talk about it afterward.
Wembanyama, still just 22, was thoughtful in his response to Edwards’ postgame honesty.
“I think it’s a real power to have the strength to be honest about things. Like, he’s not backing away from the questions.”
"It's an honor and it's the best thing to have the best players go as hard as they can...it makes us better, it makes me better
— Hector Ledesma (@HectorLedesmaTV) January 18, 2026
It's a show of respect (per) standings, we are a respectable team"⬇️
-Asked Vic about Anthony Edwards saying he's the reason Ant gets up for the #Spurs pic.twitter.com/CZFcJNWgrE
And Edwards wasn’t backing away from Wemby either - literally. He made it clear he’s coming for the rim, and he’s got the 7-foot-5 center in his sights.
“He’s just trying to dunk on everybody, so I’m not an exception,” Wembanyama said with a grin.
"They've got Wemby..."⬇️
— Hector Ledesma (@HectorLedesmaTV) January 18, 2026
-Asked Anthony Edwards what it is about the #Spurs that brings out some of his best
About going toe-to-toe w/Vic...
"I love it. I wish we could've just move everybody out of the way...me vs. him"
On who would win 1-1 in that scenario
"Me"
-Ant#PorVida pic.twitter.com/45Ey2TtUbi
But don’t mistake Wemby’s calm demeanor for anything less than competitive fire. He knows what’s coming - and he’s ready.
“Of course, if he’s got good momentum and I’m just a little bit late, he might be not very forgiving, but it’s fine. I’ll try - over the years, I will try to block him more than he dunks on me.”
That’s the kind of back-and-forth that makes basketball fun. No animosity. Just two elite talents pushing each other, acknowledging each other, and setting the stage for what could be one of the NBA’s next great individual rivalries.
We’re not just watching the standings anymore. We’re watching Edwards vs. Wemby - and it’s already can’t-miss basketball.