Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs have officially ended the franchise’s postseason drought in historic fashion. They registered a 119-115 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on March 16, 2026, at the Intuit Dome, Inglewood. With this win, the Spurs have reached a 50-win record for the first time since the 2016-17 season.
The Spurs’ turnaround is staggering: the last time they crossed the 50-win threshold in a single season was back in 2016-17, when they had a 61-21 record, followed by a 4-0 Western Conference Finals loss to the Golden State Warriors. But after almost a decade, they have broken the 50-mark and are currently sitting firmly at the No. 2 seed with a 50-18 record, trailing only the Oklahoma City Thunder for the top spot in the West.
Victor Wembanyama and the Culture of Growth
The “Wemby Effect” can be best seen in the team’s defensive identity. The Spurs currently boast the NBA’s third-best defensive rating (111.6), fueled by Wembanyama’s league-leading 3.0 blocks per game (161 total blocks in 2025-26). Offensively, the team seems to have found its rhythm, ranking fourth in scoring with an offensive rating of 118.6.
In a post-match interview with NBC Sports, Wembanyama talked about the record and said, “We feel pretty good about it, we are having fun. All of us are reaching new heights individually and collectively. Of course (we are chasing the number one seed).”
“It’s still not enough. I want to get to at least 60 to balance out my rookie season,” added the 22-year-old on the team’s 50th win milestone. During Wembanyama’s rookie season, the Spurs finished the season with a 22-60 record, at the bottom of the Western Conference standings.
“All of us are reaching new heights individually and collectively.”
Hear from Wemby after the Spurs beat the Clippers, their 16th win in their last 18 games! pic.twitter.com/cmC7UlAdvt
— NBA on NBC and Peacock (@NBAonNBC) March 17, 2026
The Frenchman is currently averaging the league’s 14th-best PPG (24.3), the fifth-best RPG (11.2), and the leading BPG (3.0) while shooting at a career high of 50.6% from the field and 36.1% from beyond the arc.
Wembanyama Credits Offseason Intensity
The Spurs’ surge to the top of the standings is the result of the team’s intense summer preparation. By surrounding Wembanyama with veterans like Harrison Barnes and young playmakers like Stephon Castle, who is currently averaging 16.7 points, 7.0 assists, and 5.1 rebounds per game, the front office is looking to build a championship-winning roster around the 7-foot-4.
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This roster depth has allowed the Spurs to maintain a 7.1 net rating this season. Crediting the team’s offseason preparation, Wembanyama commented, “I hope we can be this locked in for all the other off-seasons to come, because it was a really high-level preparation, mentally, physically, for everybody. The amount of film we did. And this is the reason we were so ready for the season.”
With 14 games left in the regular season, the Spurs are no longer just a scary young team. They are proving to be a legitimate threat to anyone who wants to win the title.
