Throughout the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend, narratives and headlines went around and at times took on a life of their own.
The midseason festivities would not be complete without the usual debates about the competitiveness and the quality of the various competitions like the 3-point shootout and the divisive Slam Dunk contest. The talk of whether or not this would be LeBron James’ last All-Star weekend as an active player got more buzz, but it remains a great unknown. Anthony Edwards stole the show in the All-Star Game, cementing his status as one of the faces in the league.
Lost in the shuffle of this star-studded and eventful affair, though, was the burgeoning presence of Victor Wembanyama.
Wembanyama was the sole bright sport for a World squad that left many wanting more. His videogame numbers (33 points across two games on insane 76.9/80.0/100.0 shooting splits) only told half the story as he was engaged on both ends of the floor, to the point that you’d think that the 2028 Summer Olympics was in full swing.
In reality, Wembanyama’s stellar All-Star performance is a reflection of his career year thus far. His numbers and efficiency are up and he has led the San Antonio Spurs to the third-best record in the NBA through the All-Star break. Beyond the numbers, Wembanyama and the Spurs were also able to prove that the defending champions Oklahoma City Thunder were not as indestructible as they seemed early on in the season. Walk the talk became walk over the reigning champs and send the message to the rest of the league.
The competitiveness Wembanyama put on display this year is not surprising given how his 2024-2025 season was cut short due to deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder. Perhaps the wounds from the 2024 Olympic tournament haven’t healed as well, and he’d gladly take any opportunity to stick it to anyone with USA stitched in front of their jersey.
However, health remains Wembanyama’s wild card and he has so far missed 14 games. San Antonio will definitely give him some days off, especially as they are primed for a deep postseason run. The Spurs also built a great roster around him, as De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper are the perfect perimeter complements to the dynamic Wembanyama, who can score off and create for them. San Antonio is one of the organizations that manages their players well, and while Wembanyama is a unique case compared to the likes of Tim Duncan and Kawhi Leonard, their cautious approach has more often than not paid dividends.
When you think about it, this version of Victor Wembanyama is proof of that. A concerning health issue cut a promising season short. The narrative that was once about utter dominance suddenly faced a cloud of uncertainty, but Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs took a thorough and conservative approach to get him ready. And thanks to their efforts, Wembanyama is back on the path to greatness.
