San Antonio Spurs players Victor Wembanyama and David Jones-Garcia experienced wildly different nights during the August window of FIBA World Cup qualifying. Wembanyama starred in France's 92-67 rout of Slovenia, while Jones-Garcia was ejected in the Dominican Republic's tense 94-90 victory over Brazil. This international action comes as the Spurs look to build from a tough 2025-26 finish, where their last result was a 90-94 loss to the New York Knicks on June 14, 2026, part of a recent form of 1 win and 4 losses.
How did Victor Wembanyama perform for France?
Victor Wembanyama shook off self-described rust from warm-up games to dominate Slovenia. He finished with a monster stat line of 22 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks. France outscored their opponents by 22 points when the Spurs' star was on the floor, effectively ending the game by halftime.
France now leads Group L with a 6-1 record. Their next qualifier is against Sweden in Stockholm on August 30. Sweden lacks the size to match up with Wembanyama, who should have another big game. A win would almost secure France's spot in the 2027 FIBA World Cup, even with two more qualifying windows scheduled during the NBA regular season.
What happened with David Jones-Garcia for the Dominican Republic?
Spurs two-way wing David Jones-Garcia had a rough night despite his team's win. He scored just 8 points on 14 shots, making only one of his seven three-point attempts. He added 6 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks but also had 2 turnovers and zero assists.
His real trouble came with fouls. Jones-Garcia committed two flagrant fouls and was ejected early in the fourth quarter. The first was a dangerous foul on Bruno Caboclo during a dunk attempt. The second, a hip-check on Raul Neto during an inbound, was deemed avoidable and unsportsmanlike after a review. His ejection left the Dominican Republic in a tough spot, but they held on for the four-point win.
Why do these games matter for the San Antonio Spurs?
International play offers a vital development window for Spurs players outside the NBA schedule. Wembanyama's confidence-building performance against professional competition is a positive sign. His ability to control a game defensively and score efficiently translates directly to his NBA role.
For David Jones-Garcia, the experience is a mixed bag. His defensive activity was good, but his offensive struggles and poor decision-making that led to ejection are areas for growth. The Spurs will hope he bounces back strongly. The Dominican Republic, third in Group E with a 5-2 record, faces Chile on August 31. You can track all Spurs player performances on our stats page.
What is next for FIBA World Cup qualification?
The road to the 2027 FIBA World Cup continues with two more qualifying windows in December 2026 and March 2027. NBA players, including Wembanyama and Jones-Garcia, are not expected to participate in those games as they conflict with the regular season. National teams will rely on other rosters.
For France, their path looks clear. For the Dominican Republic, every game remains important to secure a top-three finish in their group. These qualifiers provide a fascinating offseason glimpse into the form of key San Antonio Spurs assets as the franchise aims to improve its standing.
