Victor Wembanyama’s choice of a starting five raised eyebrows in Oklahoma City, but the snub of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wasn’t just about throwing shade.
The Spurs star was asked to build a lineup using only players who had been on the cover of NBA 2K over the past 10 years. He went with Luka Doncic, Damian Lillard, Devin Booker, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and himself. Gilgeous-Alexander, despite being one of the strongest names in the player pool, did not make the cut, and Thunder fans were quick to notice.
That omission fit the larger Wembanyama reputation, of course. He has never come across as someone who puts on a show for the cameras, and when he has a point to make, he usually makes it plainly. But in this case, the lineup also makes basketball sense.
Luka is the engine. If the job is to run an offense and pick apart coverages until a clean shot appears for him or a teammate, he’s the obvious centerpiece. SGA is excellent with the ball, but the construction of Wemby’s group leans into a different kind of balance.
Booker, Giannis, and Wembanyama give the group plenty of defensive punch, while Giannis brings the kind of two-way force that makes him a no-brainer. He has the motor, size, length, and defensive impact that demand a spot, and the Defensive Player of the Year award only strengthens the case alongside his two MVPs.
There’s also a fit argument behind the whole thing. In today’s league, space matters, and while Gilgeous-Alexander has improved as a shooter from distance, he can still drift into more forcing his way to the lane in big moments. That was part of the story in the Western Conference Finals, when Stephon Castle’s physicality and Wemby’s presence made life difficult for him and San Antonio’s defense bothered him at times.
If you want to make the Booker-versus-SGA case, there’s at least one clear talking point: Booker hasn’t shot over 33% from three over the past two seasons. But the beef angle is still there too, and nobody’s pretending otherwise. Wembanyama and Oklahoma City have history in this context, and that part of the reaction was always going to be loud.
In Other News...
Spurs' Huge Summer Now Has A Franchise Fight Looming
San Antonios push for a new Spurs arena hit another roadblock this week when the City Council declined to put the citys proposed contribution in front of voters. The move comes even after Bexar County had already backed public funding for the project, leaving the franchises long-running arena effort caught between local political support and local political resistance.
The debate now shifts to how, and whether, the rest of the plan can keep moving. Spurs CEO RC Buford has said the team wants to press ahead, while Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones has argued for more voter input on the deal and opposed the councils decision. With the arena financing built around the Spurs paying $500 million and the city directing money already set aside for entertainment venues, the issue is no longer just about a building. It is about who gets to decide the franchises future home. [Read more 🡒]
Wembanyama And Castle Are Giving Spurs Fans A Bigger Reason To Dream
Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle have already given Spurs fans something more to track than raw upside. Castle has emerged as a playmaking force despite not being a point guard, and his feel for finding Wembanyama has helped turn the pair into one of the more intriguing young offensive connections in the league. It is the kind of chemistry that can change how a team is built around two rising talents, especially when both players appear to want their future rooted in San Antonio.
The long view is where this starts to get really interesting. The Spurs are not just hoping for a good season or two from this duo, they are staring at the possibility of sustained partnership if the roster and the contract timelines hold. There is still a long road between promising connection and all-time status, but the fact that this conversation is even possible says plenty about how quickly Wembanyama and Castle have raised the ceiling of what the Spurs can imagine. [Read more 🡒]
Spurs Just Sent A Clear Message About Their Austin Push
The Spurs are leaning harder into Austin this season, and the schedule makes the point plainly. San Antonio will play three games at Moody Center during the 2024-25 campaign, part of a broader effort that has seen the franchise grow its footprint in Central Texas through community events and even the naming rights to a half marathon.
The timing is notable, too, because one of those games lands during a packed Austin sports weekend that also features Formula 1 and Texas Longhorns football. For a franchise that has spent years treating Austin as more than just a nearby market, this is another sign that the Spurs see real value in deepening the connection, even as the full scope of the move keeps unfolding. [Read more 🡒]