Spurs' Victor Wembanyama and company walk back to court Spurs overseas
Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
All-Star Victor Wembanyama and the defending Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs are already taking a step in the right direction before the 2026-27 season. Half of the Spurs followed Wembanyama to France, emphasizing their commitment to building off their 4-1 Finals defeat to the 2026 champion New York Knicks.
These are the kinds of trips that can accentuate continuity. Especially when it’s most of a team’s rotation players amidst offseason workouts, which aren’t mandatory, such as when a squad holds training camp overseas. Watching half of Wembanyama’s Spurs teammates follow him to France means something.
For De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, Harrison Barnes, Jordan McLaughlin, and newly signed veteran Tobias Harris, following Victor Wembanyama to his home country is a breath of fresh air. It’s an ideal setting for a leader whose team fell short of making history as one of the youngest ever to reach the Finals—a place for them to clear their heads of the monotony of the offseason.
These are the dog days of summer. But unlike any other for a team, coming off their first Finals appearance, losing to the Knicks in five games, San Antonio endured its first heartbreak, which is an important step. Trailing the 1976-77 Portland Blazers (25.03 years) by a hair, the Spurs are the second-youngest team in NBA history to reach the Finals.
However, the Blazers got it done, and so did the 2025 champion Oklahoma City Thunder, the third-youngest (25.56 years), as the two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander returns to avenge the Thunder’s loss in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals. All champions experience postseason heartbreak before winning their first title. It happened to OKC in a 4-2 second-round series loss to the Dallas Mavericks in 2024.
Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Ajay Mitchell, and the Thunder have the best odds of standing in the Spurs’ way of returning to the Finals in 2027. But that’s not what the Spurs should be focusing on in August. There’s still plenty of room to grow between now and the regular season. From within, San Antonio can do just that away from the United States.
No distractions and no returning to their personal lives, as most NBA players are spending their summer working out. In France, the Spurs players can take the time to enjoy each other’s company on and off the court. The Spurs’ veterans and youngsters alike are with Wembanyama overseas, which speaks volumes about his leadership, as Spurs CEO R.C. Buford noted, per San Antonio Express-News’ Tom Orsborn.
“The thing that you see about great leaders is very seldom do they resemble or match somebody else,” Buford said, per ESPN. “He’s not trying to be anybody but himself. He sets a great example in his approach, in the way he takes care of his body, the way he connects with his family and with his teammates. There are not many times where 10 guys from a team are flying halfway around the world to go work out together. That’s done because of the respect, admiration and joy that Victor brings.”
More of Victor Wembanyama’s Spurs teammates and team staff are expected to arrive in France.
“Our coaches and players are going to be here together next week, doing some work in Paris,” Buford said during a recent appearance on TrashTalk. “They’re coming over to see Victor, about eight or ten of them.”
Planting the seeds two months before training camp, this could be the beginning of a special season for the Spurs.
Spurs’ Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper building off 2026 Finals apperance
Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) reacts after guard Dylan Harper (2) scored
Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper are coming off of their first and second seasons, respectively, with the Spurs. They’re both projected to leap in their growth this upcoming season, especially if veteran De’Aaron Fox’s starting role is reduced. However, for fans wondering whether the Spurs will part ways with Fox, the answer is no.
Despite averaging 12.8 points on 34.3% shooting, including 25% from deep, Fox is still a vital piece of the Spurs’ foreseeable future, according to ESPN’s Michael C. Wright.
“After Fox’s rough showing in the NBA Finals, team sources said the Spurs remain committed to the veteran, pointing out that San Antonio might have never reached the finals without the point guard’s contributions while playing on a high right ankle sprain,” Wright said.
“Ultimately, though, sources said the decision between Fox and Harper will belong to Johnson and will be decided solely by what happens on the floor. Johnson mentioned wanting to experiment with playing all three guards together in some lineups. San Antonio did that in 18 games last season with disastrous results (minus-26.9 net rating). Still, the trio could improve with an entire offseason together.”
Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson can now bring in veteran forward Tobias Harris to spread the floor for Fox, Castle, and Harper. With Victor Wembanyama leading the Spurs, it's another weapon alongside Harrison Barnes to complement various pairings between the three guards.
Harris, entering his 14th NBA season, averaged 13.3 points while connecting on 36.8% of his 3-point attempts with the Pistons last season, which is the most efficient he’s been from behind the arc in three years.