The San Antonio Spurs are playing it smart with Victor Wembanyama - and that caution continues heading into Tuesday night’s NBA Cup Championship against the New York Knicks in Las Vegas.
After missing a month with a calf strain, Wembanyama made his much-anticipated return to the court on Dec. 13, coming off the bench in San Antonio’s semifinal win over the league-leading Oklahoma City Thunder. That victory marked a milestone for the franchise - their first-ever trip to the NBA Cup final - and Wemby’s presence, even in limited minutes, was a major factor.
Now, as the Spurs prepare for their biggest game of the season so far, head coach Mitch Johnson has confirmed that Wembanyama will once again come off the bench. According to Johnson, the plan is to manage his minutes similarly to the last game, though there’s potential for an uptick depending on the flow of the game, stoppages, and how Wemby’s body responds.
“The plan for Victor Wembanyama will look a lot like last game,” Johnson said. “He could see more minutes, but it’ll depend on how the game progresses with stoppage and fatigue.”
Translation: the Spurs are keeping the long game in mind. They’re not rushing their 7-foot-4 phenom back into the starting lineup just yet - and that’s the right call. This is a player with generational upside, and the last thing San Antonio wants is to jeopardize his health over one game, even if it’s for a trophy.
That said, don’t mistake caution for passivity. Wembanyama made an immediate impact in his return against OKC.
In just 21 minutes off the bench, he put up 22 points, nine rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and a steal. That’s not just solid - that’s elite-level production in limited action, and it’s a reminder of just how quickly he can tilt the game in San Antonio’s favor.
The Spurs are clearly taking a measured approach, but they know what they’ve got. Even in a bench role, Wemby is going to be a focal point - whether it’s altering shots at the rim, cleaning up the glass, or stretching the floor with his offensive versatility. His presence alone forces opponents to adjust.
As for the bigger picture, San Antonio is sitting at 18-7 on the season, holding down the fourth seed in the Western Conference. They’re neck and neck with the Lakers for third, just one game back of the defending champion Nuggets, and 5.5 games behind the Thunder. In other words, they’re right in the thick of it - and with a healthy Wembanyama ramping back up, their ceiling only gets higher from here.
After the NBA Cup final, the Spurs will return to regular-season play at home, hosting the Washington Wizards on Dec. 18. But for now, all eyes are on Las Vegas, where San Antonio’s cautious-but-confident approach with their young star could pay off in a big way.