How Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs turned adversity into wins

NOW IN HIS third NBA season, San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama has outgrown the Rising Stars competition at All-Star weekend. but, the towering 7-foot-5 athlete still managed to exert a significant influence on last Friday’s events.

Spurs rookie Dylan Harper jockeyed for position at half court during the tipoff of Game 1 of the 2026 Rising Stars event, physically contesting New Orleans Pelicans center Derik Queen as an official hurried over to break it up.

In retaliation, Queen lunged forward. Harper stood his ground.

As the Pelicans’ rookie attempted to push Harper with his left arm, the Spurs guard grimaced and forcefully slammed it down just as the ball was released, displaying a competitive spirit seldom seen during All-Star festivities, inspired by Wembanyama’s own excitement for the events in Los Angeles.

A Spurs staff member humorously remarked afterward that Harper, along with teammates Stephon Castle and Carter Bryant—all Rising Stars participants—felt the invigorating energy of the French star during their flight to Los Angeles. Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards echoed this sentiment, asserting that Wembanyama “https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47978077/set the tone” for an All-Star Game marked by heightened competitiveness.

“I’ve always told myself that if I were in [the All-Star Game], I would never step onto the court to lose or not [give my all],” Wembanyama stated prior to the weekend. “I view losing as unacceptable. I’m going out there to win.”

The Spurs intend to maintain this mentality as they approach the final 27 games of the season, striving for the team’s first postseason appearance since 2019. This journey resumed Thursday night with a 121-94 “home” victory in Austin, Texas, against the Phoenix Suns, almost a year to the date that playoff aspirations almost faded in San Antonio.

On what sources described as a distressing and chaotic day for the organization, news broke on Feb. 20 that Wembanyama would be sidelined for the remainder of the season due to a diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder.

This heartbreaking news was just one piece of adversity during a tumultuous 2024-25 NBA season. It began with Hall of Fame coach Gregg Popovich suffering a stroke before a game just ten days into the season, leading to 38-year-old assistant Mitch Johnson taking over. Accompanying this was a game postponement in January, during which the Spurs were stranded in hotel rooms in Santa Monica and, later, downtown Los Angeles, as smoke from nearby wildfires encroached their vicinity.

Besides shutting down Wembanyama, the Spurs also sidelined trade deadline recruit De’Aaron Fox, who underwent season-ending surgery last March for tendon damage in his injured left pinkie. because of this, the team concluded the season with a 34-48 record, missing the playoffs for the sixth consecutive year.

A year later, the Spurs hold the league’s third-best record (39-16) and boast a 13-7 record against the other nine teams with winning percentages of .600 or above (the only team among this group yet to face San Antonio is Detroit) heading into Saturday’s matchup against the struggling Sacramento Kings at the Moody Center on the University of Texas campus. The Spurs’ remarkable resurgence appears unbelievable to many, but not to Wembanyama.

“Not hard to believe at all,” he stated. “I’ve witnessed everyone putting in the effort and making sacrifices. It’s very plausible, but it hasn’t come without challenges.”

LAST YEAR’S ALL-STAR weekend was not particularly favorable for Wembanyama. Heading into the break, San Antonio had lost four of six road games, and Wembanyama’s schedule in San Francisco was grueling. He managed to score 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting in the mini-tournament championship that replaced the conventional All-Star Game, but the effort level from other players left much to be desired.

Wembanyama described feeling fatigued after the Spurs’ final game before the All-Star break, a 116-103 loss against the Boston Celtics. He experienced similar sensations at the start of the trip on Feb. 3 in Memphis but attributed it to a bug he was trying to fend off.

“I think it played a role, not entirely of course,” Wembanyama reflected after Thursday’s victory over the Suns. “But I was 21, still learning and building my conditioning. So it doesn’t account for everything, but I believe it explains a considerable amount. I was feeling quite unwell in the weeks leading up to the diagnosis.”

While in Wyoming for a brief break post-All-Star weekend, Wembanyama began to feel discomfort and swelling in his right arm, prompting him to notify the team’s medical staff. Upon his return, a series of tests revealed a blood clot. This diagnosis left Wembanyama unsettled, forcing him to contemplate his mortality both on and off the court.

“I recall the All-Star Game last year being the worst I’ve ever felt in my life on a basketball court; honestly, I might have had only 5% blood flow in my right arm,” Wembanyama recalled.

In between administering blood-thinning medication, visiting doctors, and adhering to a rigorous rehab schedule, Wembanyama decided that enduring this “traumatic” experience would spur him to physically and mentally push his boundaries through unconventional means. also, he aimed to appreciate more of the experiences that came with his newfound fame.

so, beyond hosting a chess tournament at his court in Le Chesnay, France over the summer, Wembanyama traveled to Costa Rica and Tokyo to play soccer. He visited NASA’s Johnson Space Center and spent ten days in a Shaolin temple in Zhengzhou, China, where he practiced kung fu and meditation alongside monks.

Wembanyama also consulted with Hall of Fame big men Kevin Garnett and Hakeem Olajuwon to gain insights.

He would not play officially for the Spurs again until the Oct. 6 preseason opener.

“It was truly a tough time,” Johnson remarked on Wednesday, shortly after the team’s arrival in Austin. “There was immense uncertainty involved. Initially, we weren’t discussing basketball at all. It was about health and welfare. It felt like a stagnant moment for us. It was soon after we acquired De’Aaron, and I believe they only played five games together.”

On the morning of the Wembanyama announcement, the weather was sunny with a brisk wind, and temperatures were hovering in the mid-30s. Spurs CEO R.C. Buford stood alone in the gym at Moody Center in Austin, observing as players filtered in for shootaround before facing the Suns. All players were accounted for, except the tallest of them all. Reporters began to inquire immediately. The team’s public relations staff ventured to another room to strategize how to best release the imminent news.

That night, Fox scored 26 points during only his sixth game with the team, leading San Antonio to a 120-109 victory. In the hallway leaving the arena, Fox expressed sorrow while heading towards the team bus.

“We were prepared to dive right in, then you receive news like that,” he said. “It’s certainly challenging to overcome, given the contributions he provided us.”

San Antonio would lose 19 of its last 30 games, including 11 of the 18 games Fox missed. Wembanyama used this time to rehabilitate and reflect before entering a transformative summer in preparation for this season.

JOHNSON FIRST JOINED the San Antonio coaching staff in 2016 with the team’s Austin G League affiliate, the same year the Spurs selected current Pelicans point guard Dejounte Murray with the 29th overall pick.

Having been working with Murray since he was 15, Johnson caught the organization’s attention with his coaching skills and ability to communicate as they assessed Murray.

“He’s destined to be a head coach in this league for a long time,” Murray shared with ESPN. “He possesses the work ethic, intelligence, and patience. Having played the game himself, he checks every box. He’s not reserved, he’s at ease in any setting. I maintain contact with Spurs players. They admire him.”

The organization’s leadership also appreciated how Johnson adeptly managed the chaos of a challenging season while stepping in for Popovich, guiding San Antonio through the obstacles that forced early exits from the season for both Wembanyama and Fox, even in the absence of a complete assistant staff. Following the conclusion of the 2024-25 season, sources indicated the organization felt confident in Johnson’s capabilities with a fully staffed team, a healthy Fox and Wembanyama, and an offseason to implement his strategies and style of play.

The Spurs officially upgraded Johnson’s title from acting head coach in May, naming him the franchise’s 19th head coach, allowing him to build his team of assistants led by associate head coach and defensive specialist Sean Sweeney.

Throughout these tumultuous times, even before Popovich’s stroke, Johnson earned the players’ trust to coach them as rigorously as his predecessor. During a particular Spurs loss earlier this season in Memphis, Johnson’s gravelly voice was heard from the bench: “Get a f—ing rebound!”

“Pop maintained a level of honesty,” said forward Keldon Johnson, the longest-serving member of the Spurs, who is in his seventh season with the team. “And Mitch has always been forthright with me, not sugarcoating things, telling me when I’m wrong but also offering praise when deserved. I think that builds trust. He has earned the credibility to challenge us, motivate us, and elicit the right response.”

This established his capacity to lead in his first full season as head coach, allowing him to participate in his first NBA All-Star event. but, Johnson believes that neither his personal success nor the team’s would have been feasible without enduring the challenging 2024-25 season.

“Last year involved so much uncertainty, and it was a novel experience for me, unplanned and unscripted; I focused solely on getting through each day,” Johnson reflected.

DESPITE FINISHING FIVE games shy of the play-in tournament last season, the organization quietly remained assured of San Antonio’s ability to compete with any NBA team. Inside sources credited Johnson’s unwavering leadership amid adversity as a significant factor. Yet a more substantial reason was the return of the squad’s two stars, particularly the towering talent they’ve placed their future hopes on.

When the club shut down Wembanyama the previous season, he was undoubtedly the frontrunner for NBA Defensive Player of the Year. Even with just 46 games played, he finished leading the league in total blocks. This season, he has resumed his strong performance, averaging a career-high 24.4 points while shooting 51.1% from the field and 36.3% from beyond the arc, both representing personal bests.

The chemistry between him and Fox, the Spurs’ prized acquisition from Sacramento who expressed a desire to team up with Wembanyama, has also significantly improved. Last season, the duo played a mere 120 minutes together over five games, recording a net rating of minus-2.4. This season, while both are on the court, San Antonio holds a 22-9 record, with Wembanyama and Fox showing a net efficiency of plus-10.9 in 645 minutes, as per ESPN Research. though the Spurs rank 29th in on-ball screens and handoffs per 100 possessions, they achieve 1.25 points per direct play when Wembanyama sets an on-ball screen or handoff for Fox, marking the fourth-best efficiency among combinations running 150 or more plays together, according to GeniusIQ.

besides, the ongoing growth of Castle, the 2024-25 NBA Rookie of the Year, is notable. Following a shooting percentage of 42.8% last season, he has elevated this to 46.4% this season while maintaining similar shot attempts per game. Keldon Johnson, a candidate for NBA Sixth Man of the Year, along with starting small forward Devin Vassell, are both entering their prime at ages 26 and 25.

San Antonio’s 2025 draft selections—Harper at No. 2 and Bryant at No. 14—are also providing substantial contributions. It seems nearly the entire roster is engaged, as the Spurs’ rotation showcases 10 players who have participated in 40-plus games this season. Alongside the Utah Jazz, Miami Heat, and Boston Celtics, San Antonio is one of four teams featuring at least 10 players with 40 games played this season, as noted by ESPN Research.

The Spurs’ depth ensures they manage the impact felt during non-Wembanyama minutes. Last season, at the All-Star break, San Antonio recorded a net efficiency of minus-7.9 without Wembanyama on the court. This season, however, their net efficiency in his absence is at plus-1.0. When Wembanyama missed 12 games earlier this season due to a left calf strain, the Spurs achieved a record of 9-3.

“I don’t think we’re ahead of schedule at all,” Bryant remarked. “I believe we’ll just keep moving forward.”

As Wembanyama considers the next 27 games, he seems enthusiastic—almost elated—having propelled the Spurs to an 11-5 record against teams currently among the top six in the Western Conference, suffering only three losses against Eastern Conference teams.

“There’s only one way to find out,” he said. “Nevertheless, like any journey, what will happen will happen. There will be positives and negatives; it’s about how we navigate every situation.”

The Spurs have demonstrated this throughout the season, rebounding from a disastrous 2024-25 campaign that eventually led Wembanyama to reflect deeply and prompted the organization’s leadership to consider their next steps over the summer.

Through it all, Mitch Johnson remains steadfast in his belief that San Antonio would not be in this position now without those challenging experiences.

“I genuinely think, and likely with time will come greater realization, [last season] served as a fundamental vehicle for our team to become as cohesive as we are,” Johnson concluded. “We’ve encountered numerous unique and rare experiences. These events foster more profound conversations and reflections on life and personal journeys. I believe it has significantly influenced this group’s path, even if it doesn’t directly involve basketball.”