San Antonio Spurs training camp begins later this month, but one is burning Victor Wembanyama, which still remains unanswered. Wembanyama held up surprisingly well during the NBA Playoffs, appearing in 22 of their 23 games and playing big minutes.
Still, he must answer whether he can carry the Spurs back to the NBA Finals and win next season. That seems like an obvious question to ask, but the answer won't be revealed until June 2027.
What happens between now and then is where things can go off the rails. The Spurs are the defending West champions and are the best team in the conference on paper. That doesn't guarantee him or the Spurs anything, however.
Spurs' biggest Victor Wembanyama question won't be answered for months
Including the playoffs, Wembanyama appeared in 86 games last season. For him to get San Antonio back to the NBA Finals, he will have to play roughly as many games next season.
However, he's had a shortened offseason after a long playoff run and is playing with the French National Team this summer. That might keep him sharp ahead of the 2026-27 season, though it could also wear him down.
Keeping him healthy for the next seven months will be San Antonio's top priority. Even if they can, there's no guarantee that the Spurs will return to the NBA Finals. There are the Oklahoma City Thunder and the revamped Minnesota Timberwolves, both of whom could pose a threat.
Wembanyama has to prove he can carry the Spurs back to the NBA Finals
Making back-to-back NBA Finals is hard enough, especially after having lost the previous year. Unforeseen events can wreck championship hopes, and the Spurs may not be immune to that next season.
The best way to counteract that is to ensure that Wembanyama remains healthy and that the young core surrounding him improves. Remember, San Antonio had the New York Knicks on the ropes in the NBA Finals by leading by at least 10 points in each of their four losses.
That shows San Antonio is good enough to win a championship but not experienced enough to finish the job. Hopefully a more seasoned Wembanyama and Spurs team has that killer instinct next season.
If they do, then they could return to the NBA Finals and avenge their embarrassing loss. If they don't, then it could derail what on paper appears to be a potential dynasty in the making.
