The San Antonio Spurs weren’t supposed to be in this position. After finishing last season with a 34-48 mark, many expected them to keep trusting the process and lean on the continued development of their young stars, All-Star center Victor Wembanyama, Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle, and the second-overall pick of the 2025 NBA Draft, Dylan Harper.
However, somewhere on their journey, something shifted. The young Spurs suddenly realized they didn’t have to buy into the narrative that everyone was pushing. Why wait when they could take it all now?
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That is precisely what the Spurs have done this season, as they won 62 games in the regular season and then took down the veteran-laden Minnesota Timberwolves and the reigning champs, Oklahoma City Thunder, to earn a spot in the 2026 NBA Finals.
According to Wemby, the Spurs’ 7’4″ superstar from France, their achievement is a testament that, at times, being impatient could also work.
Patience is a virtue
Patience absolutely works in the NBA. After all, regardless of how much of a phenom a player is, there’s a steep learning curve in the Association. Every legendary hooper has gone through every step. Michael Jordan took some time before he began winning in the playoffs. LeBron James didn’t even make an appearance in the postseason until his third year in the NBA.
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For Wemby, he feels he has waited long enough. Aware of how quickly a career can change in the blink of an eye, especially after seeing his sophomore season cut short due to a blood clot in his shoulder, Wembanyama decided that this season would be his and the Spurs’.
“I agree to be patient, but just to some extent. I think being impatient can be a virtue at times because all those greats, they have been impatient,” the reigning Defensive Player of the Year explained.
“If you’re impatient 10 times, maybe nine times you’re just going to be patient. But maybe that one time, it’s going to make you do something that you were not supposed to do, make you play over your level, make you overachieve,” he continued. “And I think that’s the difference-maker between good and great.”
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Inexperience hasn’t stopped Wemby and the Spurs
Wembanyama hasn’t been either good or great—he has proven to be transcendent. Some have even speculated that in time, he could become the game’s GOAT. It’s hard to argue against those sentiments, given how impactful Wemby is. He’s averaged 23.2 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 3.5 blocks per game in the playoffs to bring San Antonio to the doorstep of a sixth title for the franchise.
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While many analysts have surmised that their lack of postseason experience could derail their title quest, Wembanyama thinks otherwise.
“The lack of experience is a strength of us,” he boldly declared. “Because we don’t know. We can do impossible stuff because we don’t know it’s impossible.”
So far, the Spurs have proven themselves capable of surpassing every challenge placed in front of them. Lack of experience? No problem. A battle-tested OKC team led by a back-to-back MVP? Sure thing. Now, they’re only four wins away from achieving the greatest prize in the NBA, and they can’t wait to pull it off.
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This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jun 3, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.