ESPN’s recent top 10 rivalries list for the 2026-27 season had plenty to like, including Spurs-Thunder at No. 2 and Victor Wembanyama vs. Nikola Jokic at No.
- But there’s another matchup that deserves a spot on that kind of board: The Alien vs.
Ant-Man.
Anthony Edwards against Wembanyama has already delivered the kind of games people remember. The appeal goes beyond the basketball, too.
There’s real mutual respect there, and hearing the two talk about each other adds another layer to every meeting. Even if Minnesota gives people reason to doubt what comes next, that doesn’t make the matchup any less compelling.
The two sides already gave fans a playoff series worth circling. In the Western Conference semifinals last season, San Antonio won the six-game series.
Wembanyama put up 20 points, 12 rebounds and 4 blocks per game, including a 39-point, 15-rebound explosion in Game 3. Edwards had a 36-point night of his own in one of Minnesota’s wins.
It was the kind of back-and-forth that sells itself: two of the best young players in the league trading blows with a trip to the conference finals at stake.
And it wasn’t just the postseason. The Spurs and Timberwolves met three times during the season, though Wembanyama missed the first one.
In the final two games, both stars were on the floor, and both matchups turned into high-wire affairs. There were 50-point scoring nights, big clutch buckets and the sort of intensity that made the games feel like playoff previews.
Every time, the finish left you wanting another round.
Of course, there’s a reason some people might hesitate to put this rivalry near the top of a watch list. Minnesota’s front office made some risky moves, trading Naz Reid and Julius Randle to bring in LaMelo Ball, then signing Jonathan Kuminga to fill the frontcourt hole they created.
The doubts are understandable. The piece of skepticism here is simple: “I don't believe that a 42% career shooter who has mostly been a vibes guy will suddenly turn into a winning player in Minnesota.”
Still, a rivalry list is about must-watch talent, not a full season forecast. Edwards remains one of the league’s most electric guards, and one of its funniest personalities, and Wembanyama doesn’t need Minnesota to be a juggernaut for this to matter. The key part has already been established: he’s found a worthy foil in Edwards, and the games between them have delivered.
No matter what Minnesota looks like by April, The Alien and Ant-Man sharing the floor will still be appointment viewing.
In Other News...
Stephon Castle Is Showing The Spurs Something Fans Have Been Craving
Stephon Castles second NBA season has given the Spurs something they have been building toward for a while: a young guard who is starting to look like more than just a defender with upside. The 2025 Rookie of the Year has taken on real responsibility as a primary ball handler in 2025-26, and the difference has shown up in the way he is creating offense while still bringing the defensive presence that made him so intriguing in the first place.
What makes the growth interesting for San Antonio is not just that Castle is producing, but how he is doing it. His development path has started to draw the kind of comparisons that only come up when a player looks like he might be moving from valuable piece to centerpiece, and the Spurs have to be encouraged by the way his playmaking and scoring are coming along together. If that progression keeps going, the conversation around Castle will not be about whether he fits into the future, but how quickly he can become one of the faces of it. [Read more 🡒]
Victor Wembanyama Is Becoming The Rival Fans Love To Hate
Victor Wembanyamas rise has come with a sharper edge lately, and around the league, that has not gone unnoticed. Fans in Houston, Minnesota and Oklahoma City have already let him hear it after physical run-ins with players from those markets, a reminder that even a young star can pick up a reputation fast when the games get chippy and the spotlight gets brighter.
The latest wave of backlash has only added to the sense that Wembanyama is starting to draw the kind of reaction reserved for players opponents and crowds love to target. He has already said he is chasing greatness rather than approval, and for the Spurs, that is part of the package now: a franchise centerpiece who is becoming impossible to ignore, even when the noise around him turns hostile. [Read more 🡒]
Former Spurs Lottery Pick Just Took A Stunning Career Detour
Joshua Primos basketball path has taken another sharp turn, a reminder of how quickly things can change for a former lottery pick. The 23-year-old was once San Antonios first-round selection in 2021, going 12th overall, before the Spurs waived him following serious allegations and he spent time away from the NBA.
After a brief stop with the Los Angeles Clippers, Primo is now moving overseas to try to keep his career going. The latest stop is Russia, where he has signed a one-year deal with BC Parma, a move that underscores just how unconventional his route back into professional basketball has become. [Read more 🡒]