San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama has sent a clear warning to the rest of the NBA, declaring he is now at his absolute best on the defensive end. The reigning unanimous Defensive Player of the Year is using last season's NBA Finals heartbreak as fuel for the 2026-27 campaign, which continues with a preseason home game against the Sacramento Kings on October 16. The Spurs are tuning up for that contest after a 123-103 preseason victory over the Phoenix Suns on October 14.
Wembanyama isn't resting on his historic accolades. He captured the Defensive Player of the Year award with every single first-place vote, a first in NBA history. "I thought that’s what it meant, you know, being the DPOY, the best defender on the planet," Wembanyama said. He immediately added that his coaches hold him to an even higher standard and that he still has significant room for growth. His personal benchmark has now shifted. "Now, the standard isn’t being the best on the planet anymore. It’s being better than last year."
Last season, the 7-foot-4 phenom put up monstrous numbers, averaging 25.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, and a league-leading 3.1 blocks per game while shooting 51.2% from the field. That production earned him a second All-Star selection, a spot on the All-NBA First Team, and a third-place finish in MVP voting. His unique blend of agility and rim protection made him a franchise cornerstone, even as the Spurs fell to the New York Knicks in the Finals.
San Antonio's front office acted decisively to build a stronger supporting cast around Wembanyama. The key veteran addition is forward Tobias Harris, who signed a two-year, $30 million deal in free agency. Harris brings leadership, versatile defense, and frontcourt depth to a team already loaded with talent.
He joins a formidable core featuring star point guard De’Aaron Fox, sharpshooter Devin Vassell, and promising young players like Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper. With Harrison Barnes re-signed and rookies such as Jayden Quaintance added, the Spurs' rotation looks deep and dangerous. This revamped squad has many analysts labeling San Antonio a premier title contender once again.
The Finals defeat left a deep mark on the young star. Wembanyama has openly discussed using the pain as motivation. "It’s not over. It evolves with time, but I’ve had a few sleepless nights, maybe not sleepless nights, but hard to find sleep sometimes," he admitted during a recent media day session.
He emphasized the importance of confronting those emotions head-on. "But there’s just a point where you accept that you have to go through it and you have to feel all of it, and we don’t want to hide from anything," Wembanyama explained. The reality, as he sees it, is a new challenge. "We’re gonna face these emotions. Face the reality that we have 100 games to play [to get back to the NBA Finals]."
The immediate focus is on final preseason preparations. After the win over Phoenix, the team will analyze its preseason performances, which also included a 119-109 loss to the Utah Jazz on October 12, a 102-98 loss to the Suns on October 10, and a 116-123 defeat to the Atlanta Hawks on October 8. These games are key for integrating new pieces like Harris and refining rotations.
All roads lead to the regular season, where expectations are sky-high. With Wembanyama determined to surpass his own phenomenal sophomore year and a roster built to contend, the Spurs' journey back to the Finals begins now. Fans can track the team's progress and view the full schedule on our schedule page.
