Spurs' elite depth gets them ahead of potential Victor Wembanyama issue

The Spurs' depth was already a major strength of theirs last season, and that will continue into the 2026-27 campaign. With new additions like Tobias Harris, Jayden Quaintance, and others, this team has enough options to hold things down even if Victor Wembanyama is unavailable.

"I just don't see this team as having much chaos potential," Yahoo Sports NBA senior analyst Kevin O'Connor states. "I think even if Wemby misses some time, there's enough good talent on this team for them to remain highly, highly competitive, just like they were last year when Wemby wasn't on the floor."

He couldn't be more spot on. Last season, the Spurs went 12-6 and averaged 120.7 points per game without Wemby. With an even deeper bench and more options at each position, San Antonio is yet again well-prepared to survive stretches without their best player.

How the Spurs' defense can survive without Victor

You don't have to be a rocket scientist to know that Victor Wembanyama is a game-changing defensive force. He led the league in blocks each season of his career and became the NBA's first unanimous DPOY winner.

While San Antonio held a winning record in the games Wemby was absent, their defense wasn't the same. They allowed opponents to score over 120 points several times and especially struggled to guard the paint. His impact is irreplaceable, but if he misses time next season, they will be much better equipped to at least stay afloat on that side of the ball.

First off, they have strong interior defensive options outside of Wemby. Luke Kornet is not their only choice as a backup center; Jayden Quaintance and Tarris Reed Jr. can also provide staunch paint resistance, keeping drivers or opposing bigs from scoring easily around the rim.

Mitch Johnson can also get creative and execute some lineups with Carter Bryant as a small-ball center. We saw it a bit during the playoffs, specifically in the Spurs' Game 3 win in the first round against the Trail Blazers, when they allowed just 108 points. It's a different look but another useful option to slow down opponents in Victor's absence.

San Antonio has more than enough offensive weapons

Wemby's value on the scoring end can't be emphasized enough. Not only did he average a career-high 25 points per game last season, but his gravity opened up so many opportunities for his teammates.

But similar to their defense, the Spurs' offense can still function in his absence. While they don't have anyone who can fully replicate Victor's gravity and elite above-the-rim scoring, they have a bevy of players who can step up and create opportunities for themselves and others.

They still have a stacked backcourt filled with guards who can get to the basket at will. Dylan Harper, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper can use their own gravity to score efficiently at the rim or open up easy perimeter shots for teammates.

Tobias Harris is another reliable, proven scoring option that can make things happen. So if Wemby does go out for a period of time, San Antonio can fall back on the shot-creating and facilitating ability of their guards and wings to keep themselves afloat.

Now, let's hope the Spurs don't have to go an extended period without Victor like they did last season. But great teams always stay prepared for any situation, and this front office did an amazing job of that this summer by adding as much depth as they could.

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