Victor Wembanyama's injury has revealed something crucial about the Spurs

Tread water. Stay competitive. Luck your way into a win every once in a while. That's pretty much all teams ask for when their superstars go down with injury, and that would have been enough for Spurs fans after it was announced that Victor Wembanyama would miss at least a few weeks with a calf injury.

Instead, the Spurs have gone 8-3 with Wemby sidelined and stayed in the thick of the Western Conference race, currently tied with the Rockets for the No. 4 spot. This is obviously great for the 2025-26 version of the team, but it also signals something larger; the Spurs aren't merely Wemby plus a bunch of spare parts, they're a well-built roster from top to bottom.

That truth will go a long way in keeping Wemby happy and progressing toward becoming a perennial contender once more. It's all good in Spurs Land right now.

Spurs supporting cast has thrived with Victor Wembanyama injured

Too often, teams find a superstar and think that concludes their rebuild, then get lazy and neglect to surround said superstar with a capable team. Early returns from this Spurs team show that's not the case in San Antonio. The front office has made a concerted effort to build a team that complements Wemby while also being able to stand on its own.

Over the past few weeks, the San Antonio Spurs have looked like a well-built team with a splendid mix of young players and veterans who can compete with anyone on any given night — because even without Victor Wembanyama, they are that.

Dylan Harper is incredibly ahead of schedule, while Stephon Castle, De'Aaron Fox, and a resurgent Harrison Barnes have all played their part in an impressive run that's not being talked about much around the league.

Spurs are built to withstand injuries to Victor Wembanyama

Of course, Wembanyama is the foundation of this Spurs rebuild. Longterm, this team couldn't be expected to compete in the Western Conference without him.

But the fact that they can do more than survive in short stints when Wemby is sidelined is a comforting feeling for Spurs fans. Protecting his health is paramount, and knowing that he doesn't have to be rushed back to save the team should take some pressure off any future injury management.

Hopefully the Spurs aren't forced to grow accustomed to life without Victor Wembanyama. At the same time, no player (especially one like Wemby, who is fully unique in his playstyle and stature) should be expected to play every game, every year. Thus, building a team that can survive without Wemby's impact is an essential part of the Spurs' future plans, and they seem to understand that assignment.