Spurs have already reclaimed season-defining status since Wemby's return

During the Spurs' media day, Victor Wembanyama delivered a powerful quote about his expectations for the team's defensive effort. "It doesn't matter your status, defense is nonnegotiable," he told reporters. The team has tried to back up his words, but Wemby is the one who makes the defense scary. He's the largest black hole in NBA history, and the stats prove it.

When Vic was out, San Antonio's defensive rating plummeted. They went from a top-five defensive team to a bottom-10 one. Overall, they dropped to 16th in the league. He's been back for four games, coming off the bench and playing limited minutes, but they've already skyrocketed back to the fifth-ranked defense in the NBA.

The offense has also continued to set courts across the country on fire with their full assortment of weapons back in the rotation. They have the sixth-highest offensive rating. That's a subject for another day, though. Let's get back to the defense and Wemby's impact on it.

Wembanyama will be the reason the NBA changes their 65-game rule

We've seen the extraterrestrial crater opponent offenses since he's entered the league, so we're no longer surprised by it. We are, however, perennially impressed by it. The way he completely changes what the other team deems possible by walking onto the court isn't like anything we've ever seen.

Just take his performance against Oklahoma City in his first game back from the calf injury. OKC looked as poised as ever, leading the Spurs by 11 at the end of the first quarter and getting almost everywhere they wanted on the court. When Wemby entered the game, all of a sudden, the defending NBA champions looked like they forgot how to play basketball.

His defense is undeniable, and there will come a point when not allowing him to win Defensive Player of the Year will make a mockery of the award. The league was well-intentioned when it implemented the 65-game rule to curb the load management that was running rampant throughout the league, but players experiencing real injuries are being punished now.

There has been an obvious effort to push Wembanyama in front of as many eyes as possible. He's the next face of professional basketball in the best league in the world. Those guys get special treatment. I have all the faith in the world in Adam Silver to correct course. It's not a matter of if; it's when. Continuing to deny Vic what he rightfully deserves would be a travesty nobody wants to see.