While Victor Wembanyama performed well in the first two years of his career, he and the San Antonio Spurs didn’t compare to what they accomplished during the 2025-26 season.
In his first season, Wemby took home the NBA’s Rookie of the Year honors. In his second season, the Spurs’ franchise player became an All-Star for the first time. But this past season? He went bonkers, winning Defensive Player of the Year, finishing third in MVP voting, and being named a first-team All-NBA selection.
Victor Wembanyama Signs Lucrative New Contract
Not to mention, for the first time in his career, Wembanyama got a taste of playoff basketball, and he helped take the Spurs all the way to the NBA Finals. While the Spurs ultimately came up short, seeing how far they came should serve as motivation heading into the 2026-27 campaign.
One thing that Wembanyama won’t have to worry about anymore is money.
According to ESPN’s NBA insider Shams Charania, the Spurs agreed to sign the 22-year-old to a five-year, $252 million maximum rookie-scale contract extension. The contract also includes a player option that gives Wembanyama control over the fifth season of the deal.
BREAKING: San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama has signed a five-year, $252 million maximum rookie-scale contract extension, with a player option in the fifth season, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/NwbTiIkurd
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 10, 2026
The Spurs pitched multiple offers to Wembanyama. He could have signed for the 30% supermax; Wemby opted to just take the 25% maximum offer from San Antonio instead. Rather than the $252 million he signed for, Wembanyama was eligible to earn as much as $303 million. But again, he opted to save his team a bit of cash.
“San Antonio worked in close partnership with Wembanyama and his representatives, offering the full super max and different variations of extensions,” Charania said. “But Wembanyama ultimately chose a contract sacrifice rooted in giving him and the organization increased ability to build a sustained title contender around him.”
It’s a great way for him to help the Spurs continue to build the best championship contender possible. Perhaps after coming up short against the New York Knicks, Wembanyama and his agent devised a plan that could help them gain a legal competitive edge in a crowded Western Conference.
Wembanyama has played just three seasons in the NBA, yet he’s already showing an advanced level of wisdom. Leaving more money on the table might be the kind of move that puts him on a championship path, and one can’t help but wonder whether it will become more of a trend across the league.
