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After coming up short in the NBA Finals, San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama has the perfect opportunity to make a big statement on opening night. The Spurs are set to take on their rivals, the Oklahoma City Thunder, on October 20th, opening night.
That gives Wembanyama the perfect chance to show the NBA what they can expect during the 2026-27 season. Last year's opening night saw him dominate the Dallas Mavericks by dropping 40 points and 15 rebounds on them.
He would later go on to win Defensive Player of the Year and finish third in MVP voting. Wemby can make a similar statement against OKC while further establishing dominance over them.
Wembanyama must make an early MVP statement against the Thunder
The Spurs beat OKC eight times last season, including in the Western Conference Finals. Beating them again on opening night would further prove they are the better team.
It would also give both he and the Spurs the perfect opportunity to show everyone how they will bounce back from their NBA Finals loss. Hopefully, he'll show the Thunder and the NBA what he's learned over the summer.
There has been talk of him adding a hook shot as well as working out with Hakeem Olajuwon. That offers a tantalizing host of possibilities for his game. If he adds more weight and core strength, then that offensive work would be doubly impactful.
The Spurs can prove their West supremacy by beating OKC
San Antonio are currently the Western Conference champion until proven otherwise. They could further establish themselves as the team to beat out west with a convincing win over OKC on opening night. Obviously, it's just one game, but it sets the tone for the rest of the season.
Despite being younger than Oklahoma City, San Antonio has had their number since the start of last season. They can keep that up next year if Wembanyama has a statement game and a statement season.
Hopefully a long playoff run as well as playing for the French national team will help him elevate his game even quicker than expected. If that's the case, he could very well become the best player in the NBA next season. That starts with him dominating OKC on opening night.
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