Victor Wembanyama’s ascent has moved past the “future of the league” stage. The Spurs star is already pressing into the present-tense conversation about who owns the NBA’s spotlight, and CBS Sports’ latest “Face of the League” rankings made that plain by placing him No. 2, behind only LeBron James.
That slot says plenty about where Wembanyama stands after a 2025-26 season that packed in just about everything. The 22-year-old pushed San Antonio to the NBA Finals, won his first Defensive Player of the Year award, and finished among the finalists for MVP. By the end of it, he had a strong case as one of the game’s best two-way players.
John Gonzales summed up the feeling this way: "Wembanyama won't turn 23 until January. That's a terrifying prospect for the rest of the league, given what he's already accomplished...
There's nothing he can't do on the court," John Gonzales writes. "Wemby isn't just next, he's right now.
There's only one man left who can prevent him from having the spotlight all to himself."
The only player ahead of him is still a giant in his own right. Even at 41, LeBron James continues to command massive attention across the sport, and his blockbuster free-agency decision dominated headlines all through July. No one in the NBA drives more conversation than James at the moment.
Wembanyama, though, has been climbing fast since the Spurs made him the No. 1 overall pick in 2023. He has checked off almost every box attached to that kind of hype, blending elite defense, offensive versatility and a skill set that makes San Antonio a must-watch whenever it takes the floor.
His reach is growing beyond the court, too. Wembanyama was recently named the cover athlete for NBA 2K27’s standard edition, another sign that his profile keeps rising on a global scale. Add in his endorsement appeal, international draw and on-court production, and he’s become one of the league’s most marketable stars.
If San Antonio builds on last season’s run to the Finals, the argument for Wembanyama as the NBA’s top face gets a lot stronger. And in the league, championships still move the needle faster than anything else. The Spurs look like they have the kind of roster that can chase one.
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Mavericks Lock In Undrafted Standout With Intriguing Extension
Naji Marshall is now set to stick with Dallas a little longer after agreeing to a three-year contract extension, a move that gives the Mavericks more clarity with one of their more useful rotation pieces. The structure of the deal is noteworthy, too, with the salary declining from $18.2 million in the 2027/28 season to $16.7 million in 2029/30, a setup that keeps him trade-eligible and gives the team some flexibility down the road.
For a Mavericks team trying to build around dependable, adaptable players, Marshalls appeal is easy to understand. President Masai Ujiri pointed to his competitiveness and versatility as reasons he fits into the franchises future, and that kind of profile tends to matter even more when roster decisions start getting tight. The extension locks in an important piece, but it also leaves open the larger question of how Dallas will continue shaping the rest of its core. [Read more 🡒]
Spurs Face Early Jayden Quaintance Decision That Could Shape His Rookie Year
Jayden Quaintances rookie year has already turned into a roster-management puzzle for the Spurs. The first-round pick is coming off knee surgery, and the expectation is that he will be sidelined for about six months, which puts his availability for next season in serious doubt before it even begins. For a team trying to map out its frontcourt rotation, that creates an early choice about how to handle a young big man whose development may matter just as much as his health.
San Antonio can afford to be patient, especially with other center options in the mix in Tarris Reed Jr. and Luke Kornet. The bigger question is whether the Spurs see more value in keeping Quaintance completely out for the season or finding a way to ease him back once he is cleared so he can get real game reps somewhere in the system. However they answer it, the decision will say a lot about how the Spurs want to balance long-term development against the realities of a season that starts without him. [Read more 🡒]