NBA analyst predicts Victor Wembanyama will lead Spurs to top-eight finish in West

Following a 2024-25 campaign derailed by injuries, the San Antonio Spurs are preparing to make a playoff run in their first full season with Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox leading the way. 

Wembanyama is fully healthy ahead of the 2025-26 campaign after missing the team's final 30 regular-season games following the All-Star break due to a blood clot in his right shoulder. While Fox is currently dealing with a right hamstring injury, he isn't expected to miss significant time. 

The Spurs aren't likely to contend without another star alongside Wembanyama and Fox, but they have plenty of young pieces to be excited about. Stephon Castle is fresh off winning the Rookie of the Year award, and San Antonio also landed the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 Draft, selecting Rutgers standout Dylan Harper. 

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NBA analyst predicts major leap from Spurs

While the team doesn't have a star forward, the Spurs still have plenty of depth across the roster. With Wembanyama's two-way skillset, The Athletic's John Hollinger speculates the club will wind up as the seventh-best team in the West — a significant improvement from last season's 13th-place finish. 

“He [Wembanyama] guarantees a top-10 defense basically by himself, and a healthy season from him should be enough to assure a top-eight finish, even in the unforgiving West,” he wrote.

After Fox was acquired from the Sacramento Kings in February, injuries limited the star duo to just five games together. However, the Spurs will now hope to see almost a full season of the pairing together. 

While the Western Conference is loaded with talent, the Spurs have the pieces to take a significant leap with Wembanyama leading the charge.

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