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Victor Wembanyama's next leap may not come from scoring (it's his passing)

He can make an even bigger impact on the Spurs next season.
ByTy Small
May 28, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) enters the court for a warm up before the start of game six of the western conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Dustin Safranek-Imagn Images
May 28, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) enters the court for a warm up before the start of game six of the western conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Dustin Safranek-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Victor Wembanyama's MVP buzz last season was no fluke. The Spurs had a plus-17.0 net rating when he was on the floor, which is the ultimate sign of his otherworldly two-way impact. But he can make an even bigger mark for his team during the 2026-27 campaign by developing more chemistry with his teammates through his passing and playmaking.

Wemby's already the best two-way force in the NBA, and there isn't much of a debate. No other player can replicate his ability to dominate offensively while putting in loads of effort on the other side of the floor. Watching him sustain that style of play for a deep postseason run was even more impressive.

But even with Victor being a bona fide superstar, there are still areas for improvement. That was made clear in the NBA Finals, where he and the young Spurs came a few games short of hoisting the Larry O'Brien trophy. The next big goal for The Alien is to find ways to make an impact that doesn't just involve increasing his scoring average.

Wemby should put his playmaking to the test even more next season

Victor Wembanyama's passing chops are already among the most underrated parts of his game. During the 2025-26 season, he averaged 3.1 assists per game, which is an impressive mark for someone of his size and position.

So we know he can set his teammates up for scoring opportunities; now it's time for him to make those passing skills an even more dangerous weapon for the Spurs' offense. He can act as a hub, using his ability to space the floor to pull bigger defenders away from the basket. This would allow him to locate cutters who can score easy, uncontested looks at the rim.

Wemby can also operate as a playmaker from the mid-range. Getting a catch in those spots and facing up against opponents lets him survey the court and find open teammates on the perimeter or closer to the goal. This is a skill many dominant centers and power forwards have had, and he should add it to his bag of tricks next season.

Take Nikola Jokic, for example. He's not just bringing the ball up court and moving around the perimeter to set up DHOs with Jamal Murray. He's also fighting for his spot in the mid-range and patiently reading defenders to find teammates who have an easier shot. Wemby should steal this page out of his book.

Wemby's playmaking allows him to mesh even more with his peers

Becoming an even better playmaker will help Victor gain more chemistry with his teammates. Whether it's the guys he took the court with last season or new additions like Tobias Harris, Jayden Quaintance, or Tarris Reed, his ability to find them in their sweet spots will help this group mesh even more.

Chemistry is so important for teams with championship goals and aspirations. That's especially true for the Spurs, who have a long history of finding ways to win titles with their elite synergy and togetherness.

It's always great when a franchise's best player sets the tone, and that's the case here for Wemby. His ability to set up teammates is about more than his impressive skill set as a center. It could also be the thing that takes San Antonio to the next level.

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