Best Wembanyama/Castle news in weeks drops with latest Spurs report

Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, and Jordan McLaughlin participated in a full practice today, according to longtime local reporter Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News. The last time Area 51 played together was in a loss to the Golden State Warriors on November 14.

Vic hasn't played since, and Steph was hurt in the very next game against the Kings. They're undoubtedly ready to get back on the court, and it sounds like that reality is even closer than ever.

These guys haven't been fully cleared yet, but as McDonald said, getting back on the floor for a full practice with the team is a major step to making that happen. Knowing the Spurs, they're probably looking for conditioning and potential setbacks now. They all had lower-body injuries that required rest to heal, so letting them play so actively leads me to believe that the return of Area 51 is imminent.

The reinforcements would be right on time.

The Spurs must establish consistency

The Silver and Black were the go-to topic of conversation this offseason as so many pondered whether their trio of guards would work together. There were interesting arguments on both sides, but the only thing that will truly determine success is time on the court. They've gotten zero of that since the start of the year. De'Aaron Fox, Dylan Harper, and Castle have yet to play a single minute together.

Fox and Wemby shared the floor for a total of nine games between the five games both players were in uniform for last season and the four this year. As good as the Spurs have been, nobody can reasonably say what this team's peak is, and we're two short weeks from hitting the two-month mark of the 2025-26 campaign.

Their next game is a rematch against the New Orleans Pelicans tomorrow night. It'll be the third time these teams meet this season, and it would be the perfect game to see guys return. We may not see all of them come back at once, though.

Jeff McDonald explains that Vic is not expected to suit up for the Pelicans game, and neither is McLaughlin. The reigning Rookie of the Year is another story. "Castle has not yet been ruled out for a return against the Pelicans," he wrote. He also labeled Wembanyama as "iffy" for Wednesday's Emirates NBA Cup game vs. the Los Angeles Lakers.

The fact that we're starting to hear real guesses from local reporters who work closely with the team every day suggests that we should see these players back on the floor shortly. Not a moment too soon.

The Spurs' back-to-back matchups with OKC will be here before you know it, and they're the ultimate measuring stick. San Antonio needs to get some fluidity from playing together first, though. One of the Thunder's greatest strengths is how well all the pieces fit. They play off each other very well, and it will take great teamwork to beat them.