Ever since Victor Wembanyama stepped into the NBA spotlight in 2023, the league has been bracing for the moment he takes full control. Now, in just his third season, it looks like that moment has arrived - and the San Antonio Spurs are no longer just building around their generational talent. They’re winning with him.
Currently sitting at No. 2 in the Western Conference, the Spurs have made a loud statement by beating the top-seeded and defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder three times. That’s not a fluke.
That’s a team with real teeth. And while OKC looked poised to build a dynasty, San Antonio might be cutting that run short before it even starts - while positioning themselves as the team to beat for the next decade.
At the heart of it all is Wembanyama. He’s not just a shot-blocker - he’s a shot eraser.
He alters everything around the rim, forcing teams to completely rethink their offensive approach. And when you pair that with the Spurs’ aggressive, physical perimeter defenders who hound opposing ball-handlers, you’ve got a defensive identity that travels - one that already plays like a contender, even if the roster is still young and evolving.
But they’re not invincible. Not yet.
After the Spurs clawed back to beat the Rockets in Houston, the crew on Inside the NBA broke down what it takes to beat this rising San Antonio squad. Charles Barkley, never one to mince words, laid it out plainly when Ernie Johnson brought up the idea that teams are trying to get physical with Wemby.
“The thing is, Ernie, that’s your only chance against him,” Barkley said. “If you don’t beat him up, you’re not tall enough, you’re not athletic enough. If you don’t physically try to manhandle Victor, you got no chance.”
He’s not wrong. There’s no blueprint for stopping a 7-foot-4 unicorn with elite timing, guard-like mobility, and a wingspan that seems to stretch from sideline to sideline.
You can’t go over him. He’s too long.
You can’t outjump him. He’s too springy.
The only real option? Try to go through him - and even that’s a gamble.
Zion Williamson gave it a shot - and made it work. In a surprising upset, the last-place Pelicans knocked off the second-seeded Spurs behind Zion’s fearless, downhill attack.
He didn’t shy away from Wemby. He went right at him, again and again, and found success in a way few have.
It’s rare to see anyone challenge Wemby at the rim and come out on top. Zion did it with power, body control, and a level of confidence that reminded everyone why he was once the most hyped No. 1 overall pick in years - long before Wembanyama became a household name.
Most teams don’t have a Zion. But for those that do have a physical force who can challenge Wemby head-on, that performance offered a potential roadmap.
Still, there’s a bigger concern looming - and it’s not about matchups or schemes. It’s about durability.
At Wemby’s size, with his frame and the sheer volume of physical punishment he’s taking, the long-term health questions are real. He’s already dealt with some injuries early in his career, and teams aren’t just trying to beat him on a random Tuesday night - they’re trying to wear him down over the course of a season. Every bump, every elbow, every hard foul is part of a larger strategy: chip away at the foundation now, and hope it crumbles when the games matter most.
Because when Wemby is fully healthy, the Spurs are a problem. A big one. But even the most dominant fighters can be brought down if they take enough body blows.
After that gritty win over Houston, Wemby acknowledged the toll, but made it clear he’s not backing down.
“Eventually, I’m gonna run out of places on my body for scars,” he said. “But the rest of my body - my joints, my muscles - they’re fine.”
That’s the mindset of a player ready for the next step. And that next step? The playoffs.
This will be Wembanyama’s first postseason run, and by the time it’s all said and done, it’ll be the longest stretch of basketball he’s ever played. How his body holds up - and how much of that physical punishment he can absorb - might be the biggest X-factor in the entire Western Conference.
Because if he stays upright? If he’s still flying around, swatting shots, and anchoring that Spurs defense deep into May and June?
Then the rest of the league might have to start counting down again - not to when Wemby arrives, but to how long it’ll take anyone to catch up.