James Nnaji, whose NBA Draft rights are owned by the Knicks, enrolled at Baylor University with immediate eligibility to play college basketball this season, according to multiple reports Wednesday. Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress first reported the news, citing Nnaji’s agents at Gersh Sports.

The 21-year-old center was on the Knicks’ 2025 Summer League team and played in all five of New York’s games. He averaged 3.2 points and 3.6 rebounds in 12.9 minutes.

Nnaji, whom the Knicks’ Summer League roster listed at 6-foot-11 and 250 pounds, spent the past five years and change playing overseas.

The Detroit Pistons selected Nnaji with the 2023 NBA Draft’s No. 31 overall pick — the first selection in the second round — and traded his rights to the Charlotte Hornets.

The Knicks acquired his rights in October 2024 when they made their three-team trade with the Hornets and Minnesota Timberwolves, which brought Karl-Anthony Towns to New York.

The Makurdi, Nigeria, native’s playing career continues on a Baylor team that is 9-2 overall entering Monday’s game against Arlington Baptist. The Bears open Big 12 Conference play next Saturday, Jan. 3, at TCU.

Pete Fairbanks isn’t returning to the Tampa Bay Rays, but the right-handed relief pitcher is staying in Florida. The Miami Marlins are signing the 32-year-old Fairbanks to a one-year, $13 million deal, according to multiplereports Wednesday.

Fairbanks, 32, entered the open market after the Rays declined his $11 million club option for 2026. As a free agent, he will reportedly sign a contract worth $2 million more.

There’s a $1 million signing bonus included in the deal, plus an additional $1 million in incentives based on appearances, per MLB.com, which reported that Fairbanks will have the largest annual salary the Marlins have ever given a relief pitcher, topping the $9 million average Heath Bell earned over the 2012-14 seasons.

Fairbanks was drafted by the Texas Rangers in 2015 and made his major-league debut for the organization in 2019. He was traded to the Rays later that year. He spent six-plus seasons in Tampa, serving as the Rays’ primary closer from 2023 to 2025. Over those three years, he piled up 75 saves, good for 12th-most of any reliever during that span, according to The Athletic.

In that stretch, he has recorded a save in 85.2% of his opportunities and posted a 2.98 ERA, 171 strikeouts and only 55 walks. His consistency can be attributed to a high-powered fastball that hovers around 97 mph and is aided by his 6-foot-6, 235-pound frame. Fairbanks has a reliable slider as well and has recently worked a cutter into his arsenal.

Injuries have been an issue for him. From 2021 to 2024, he landed on the injured list on seven different occasions, per The Athletic.

[Get more Marlins news: Miami team feed]

That said, he stayed away from the IL this past season while stacking a career-high 60 1/3 innings across 61 games. His 27 saves were also a personal best.

Although it has declined in recent seasons, Fairbanks’ average strikeouts per nine innings — which was 8.8 in 2025 — should provide a boost to a Marlins bullpen in which he’ll be joined by fellow righties Anthony Bender, Calvin Faucher and Tyler Phillips. 

Last year, Miami’s bullpen finished 22nd in MLB in ERA (4.28) and 25th in strikeouts per nine innings (8.21).

Earlier this week, the Marlins announced that right-handed reliever Ronny Henriquez will miss next season after undergoing a hybrid procedure that featured Tommy John surgery.

Pete Fairbanks isn’t returning to the Tampa Bay Rays, but the right-handed relief pitcher is staying in Florida. The Miami Marlins are signing the 32-year-old Fairbanks to a one-year, $13 million deal, according to multiplereports Wednesday.

Fairbanks, 32, entered the open market after the Rays declined his $11 million club option for 2026. As a free agent, he will reportedly sign a contract worth $2 million more.

There’s a $1 million signing bonus included in the deal, plus an additional $1 million in incentives based on appearances, per MLB.com, which reported that Fairbanks will have the largest annual salary the Marlins have ever given a relief pitcher, topping the $9 million average Heath Bell earned over the 2012-14 seasons.

Fairbanks was drafted by the Texas Rangers in 2015 and made his major-league debut for the organization in 2019. He was traded to the Rays later that year. He spent six-plus seasons in Tampa, serving as the Rays’ primary closer from 2023 to 2025. Over those three years, he piled up 75 saves, good for 12th-most of any reliever during that span, according to The Athletic.

In that stretch, he has recorded a save in 85.2% of his opportunities and posted a 2.98 ERA, 171 strikeouts and only 55 walks. His consistency can be attributed to a high-powered fastball that hovers around 97 mph and is aided by his 6-foot-6, 235-pound frame. Fairbanks has a reliable slider as well and has recently worked a cutter into his arsenal.

Injuries have been an issue for him. From 2021 to 2024, he landed on the injured list on seven different occasions, per The Athletic.

[Get more Marlins news: Miami team feed]

That said, he stayed away from the IL this past season while stacking a career-high 60 1/3 innings across 61 games. His 27 saves were also a personal best.

Although it has declined in recent seasons, Fairbanks’ average strikeouts per nine innings — which was 8.8 in 2025 — should provide a boost to a Marlins bullpen in which he’ll be joined by fellow righties Anthony Bender, Calvin Faucher and Tyler Phillips. 

Last year, Miami’s bullpen finished 22nd in MLB in ERA (4.28) and 25th in strikeouts per nine innings (8.21).

Earlier this week, the Marlins announced that right-handed reliever Ronny Henriquez will miss next season after undergoing a hybrid procedure that featured Tommy John surgery.

By Alex Barutha, RotoWire
Special to Yahoo Sports

Christmas Day delivers an NBA feast, with five marquee matchups featuring playoff implications, star power and plenty of fantasy basketball intrigue. From a bruising Eastern Conference showdown at Madison Square Garden to a heavyweight clash between San Antonio and Oklahoma City, this slate offers no shortage of storylines.

[It’s not too late to create or join a High Score league, a new way to play Fantasy Basketball on Yahoo with simple rosters and scoring]

Injuries loom large across several games, creating potential value swings and unexpected rotation changes. Superstars like Nikola Jokić, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Edwards and Donovan Mitchell headline the action, while emerging contributors could swing outcomes. Here’s a game-by-game breakdown of what to watch as the NBA takes center stage on Christmas.

Cleveland Cavaliers (17-14) at New York Knicks (20-9)

New York leads this season series 1-0. It’s 7-3 over its past 10 games and it is 14-2 at home. Cleveland is 5-5 over its past 10 and is 6-6 on the road.

Like many of the games on this Christmas Day slate, there’s a notable injury report. Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby are both questionable, while Evan Mobley remains sidelined. Potential absences to Brunson and Anunoby could lead to more minutes for Tyler Kolek and Jordan Clarkson, plus Mitchell Robinson and wing players like Ariel Hukporti.

For the Cavs, Dean Wade has been starting in place of Evan Mobley, and Sam Merrill is coming off a great performance and will help with the team’s offensive punch. Jaylon Tyson and Jarrett Allen should also continue seeing expanded roles. Donovan Mitchell has been Cleveland’s best performer, averaging 31.9 points, 5.2 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.0 steals this month.

Brunson has been New York’s best player, but know for sure that Karl-Anthony Towns will be available. In December, he’s producing 23.6 points, 11.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.0 steals.

San Antonio Spurs (22-7) at Oklahoma City Thunder (26-4)

The Spurs lead this season series 2-0. They’re 9-1 over their past 10, winning seven straight and are 10-5 on the road. OKC is 7-3 over its past 10 and is undefeated at home.

This game has a much cleaner injury report than Cavs/Knicks, though Chet Holmgren and Ajay Mitchell are notably questionable. Their potential absences could create more opportunities for Isaiah Hartenstein, Jaylin Williams, Cason Wallace, Alex Caruso and others. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to produce at an MVP level, averaging 32.4 points, 6.5 assists, 4.9 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.0 blocks in December.

For the Spurs, Victor Wembanyama has come off the bench for five straight games and produced 17.8 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.0 blocks in 20.6 minutes. It’s unclear if he’ll rejoin the starting five and see a minutes increase for Christmas Day.

Dallas Mavericks (12-19) at Golden State Warriors (15-15)

This is the first time these teams have faced off this season. The Mavericks are 3-9 on the road but are 6-4 overall across the past 10 games. Golden State is 9-4 at home and 5-5 across the past 10 games.

Dallas has a handful of role players questionable for this game, and one starter in PJ Washington. Cooper Flagg is coming off an excellent performance, with 33 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists, 1 steal and 1 block against the Nuggets. Anthony Davis has rounded back into form as well, averaging 26.3 points, 12.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks across his past six games.

For the Warriors, Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler continue to be the team’s go-to options offensively. Curry is averaging 31.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.4 steals over his past five. During that same stretch, Butler is averaging 21.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.0 steals.

Houston Rockets (17-10) at Los Angeles Lakers (19-9)

This is the first matchup of the season for these squads. Houston is 9-8 on the road and 4-6 across the past 10. The Lakers are 7-4 at home and 5-5 over the past 10.

Luka Dončić and Rui Hachimura are questionable for this one, as is Jaxson Hayes. That means we could see expanded roles from Austin Reaves and LeBron James as the Lakers’ primary creators, while Jake LaRavia and Marcus Smart could see extra run. Reaves played 22 minutes in his return from a calf strain on Tuesday but should be at full strength for Christmas. In his prior 10 games, he averaged 27.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.1 assists.

Over LeBron’s past six games, he’s putting up 26.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 1.0 steals. The Rockets are being led by Alperen Şengün, who is having a career year with 23.0 points, 9.3 rebounds, 6.9 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.0 blocks.

Minnesota Timberwolves (20-10) at Denver Nuggets (21-8)

Denver leads this season series 2-0. It’s 9-5 at home and 7-3 across the team’s past 10 games. Minnesota is 8-5 on the road and is 8-2 over the past 10 with a three-game win streak.

For Minnesota, Jaden McDaniels is questionable. His potential absence could lead to more minutes for Jaylen Clark and Terrence Shannon. Anthony Edwards continues to lead the way with averages of 28.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.3 steals.

Denver could be even more shorthanded than usual as Cam Johnson suffered a knee sprain Tuesday against the Mavericks. Assuming he is sidelined, more minutes should be in store for Tim Hardaway Jr. and Spencer Jones. Nikola Jokić is putting up MVP numbers with 28.7 points, 11.1 rebounds, 10.8 assists and 1.4 steals in December.

By Alex Barutha, RotoWire
Special to Yahoo Sports

Christmas Day delivers an NBA feast, with five marquee matchups featuring playoff implications, star power and plenty of fantasy basketball intrigue. From a bruising Eastern Conference showdown at Madison Square Garden to a heavyweight clash between San Antonio and Oklahoma City, this slate offers no shortage of storylines.

[It’s not too late to create or join a High Score league, a new way to play Fantasy Basketball on Yahoo with simple rosters and scoring]

Injuries loom large across several games, creating potential value swings and unexpected rotation changes. Superstars like Nikola Jokić, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Edwards and Donovan Mitchell headline the action, while emerging contributors could swing outcomes. Here’s a game-by-game breakdown of what to watch as the NBA takes center stage on Christmas.

Cleveland Cavaliers (17-14) at New York Knicks (20-9)

New York leads this season series 1-0. It’s 7-3 over its past 10 games and it is 14-2 at home. Cleveland is 5-5 over its past 10 and is 6-6 on the road.

Like many of the games on this Christmas Day slate, there’s a notable injury report. Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby are both questionable, while Evan Mobley remains sidelined. Potential absences to Brunson and Anunoby could lead to more minutes for Tyler Kolek and Jordan Clarkson, plus Mitchell Robinson and wing players like Ariel Hukporti.

For the Cavs, Dean Wade has been starting in place of Evan Mobley, and Sam Merrill is coming off a great performance and will help with the team’s offensive punch. Jaylon Tyson and Jarrett Allen should also continue seeing expanded roles. Donovan Mitchell has been Cleveland’s best performer, averaging 31.9 points, 5.2 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.0 steals this month.

Brunson has been New York’s best player, but know for sure that Karl-Anthony Towns will be available. In December, he’s producing 23.6 points, 11.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.0 steals.

San Antonio Spurs (22-7) at Oklahoma City Thunder (26-4)

The Spurs lead this season series 2-0. They’re 9-1 over their past 10, winning seven straight and are 10-5 on the road. OKC is 7-3 over its past 10 and is undefeated at home.

This game has a much cleaner injury report than Cavs/Knicks, though Chet Holmgren and Ajay Mitchell are notably questionable. Their potential absences could create more opportunities for Isaiah Hartenstein, Jaylin Williams, Cason Wallace, Alex Caruso and others. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to produce at an MVP level, averaging 32.4 points, 6.5 assists, 4.9 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.0 blocks in December.

For the Spurs, Victor Wembanyama has come off the bench for five straight games and produced 17.8 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.0 blocks in 20.6 minutes. It’s unclear if he’ll rejoin the starting five and see a minutes increase for Christmas Day.

Dallas Mavericks (12-19) at Golden State Warriors (15-15)

This is the first time these teams have faced off this season. The Mavericks are 3-9 on the road but are 6-4 overall across the past 10 games. Golden State is 9-4 at home and 5-5 across the past 10 games.

Dallas has a handful of role players questionable for this game, and one starter in PJ Washington. Cooper Flagg is coming off an excellent performance, with 33 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists, 1 steal and 1 block against the Nuggets. Anthony Davis has rounded back into form as well, averaging 26.3 points, 12.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks across his past six games.

For the Warriors, Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler continue to be the team’s go-to options offensively. Curry is averaging 31.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.4 steals over his past five. During that same stretch, Butler is averaging 21.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.0 steals.

Houston Rockets (17-10) at Los Angeles Lakers (19-9)

This is the first matchup of the season for these squads. Houston is 9-8 on the road and 4-6 across the past 10. The Lakers are 7-4 at home and 5-5 over the past 10.

Luka Dončić and Rui Hachimura are questionable for this one, as is Jaxson Hayes. That means we could see expanded roles from Austin Reaves and LeBron James as the Lakers’ primary creators, while Jake LaRavia and Marcus Smart could see extra run. Reaves played 22 minutes in his return from a calf strain on Tuesday but should be at full strength for Christmas. In his prior 10 games, he averaged 27.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.1 assists.

Over LeBron’s past six games, he’s putting up 26.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 1.0 steals. The Rockets are being led by Alperen Şengün, who is having a career year with 23.0 points, 9.3 rebounds, 6.9 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.0 blocks.

Minnesota Timberwolves (20-10) at Denver Nuggets (21-8)

Denver leads this season series 2-0. It’s 9-5 at home and 7-3 across the team’s past 10 games. Minnesota is 8-5 on the road and is 8-2 over the past 10 with a three-game win streak.

For Minnesota, Jaden McDaniels is questionable. His potential absence could lead to more minutes for Jaylen Clark and Terrence Shannon. Anthony Edwards continues to lead the way with averages of 28.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.3 steals.

Denver could be even more shorthanded than usual as Cam Johnson suffered a knee sprain Tuesday against the Mavericks. Assuming he is sidelined, more minutes should be in store for Tim Hardaway Jr. and Spencer Jones. Nikola Jokić is putting up MVP numbers with 28.7 points, 11.1 rebounds, 10.8 assists and 1.4 steals in December.

With fantasy football championship week here, a lot of managers are just now turning their attention to the NBA. If you haven’t been tuned in since Opening Night, don’t worry. Christmas marks a clean checkpoint in the fantasy basketball season. Here’s a quick catch up on what you’ve missed so far — and what you should know if you’re jumping into a fantasy hoops league now.

Roles are real now — and that helps late entrants

We’re a third of the way through the season and things are finally starting to make sense. The early-season experiments are mostly over and most rotations have settled (well, except if you’re Steve Kerr). That matters for fantasy basketball, because you’re no longer drafting off hope or hype — you’re reacting to how teams are actually operating. For managers jumping in now, that clarity is an advantage, not a drawback.

Of course, there will be the inevitable late-season tanks from bottom-feeding teams that’ll influence player minutes and usage come playoff time, but that’s nothing that new players need to wrestle with around Christmas.

The young star and rookie waves arrived earlier than expected

The usual tried-and-true first-round vets have shifted to the next crop of young, emerging talent like Cade Cunningham, Tyrese Maxey, Jalen Johnson and Alperen Şengün. Building balanced rosters with a healthy mix of youth and experience is the right strategy, especially with the scheduling demands and the dizzying pace at which the NBA is played in 2025.

At the very top, the elite tier of fantasy assets has remained intact. Nikola Jokić, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Luka Dončić continue to define the ceiling across all formats. Victor Wembanyama would be right there too if it weren’t for injuries.

Now, I’m not usually a rookie guy, but No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg is the real deal. What’s more surprising is the impact of fellow rookies Kon Knueppel, Derik Queen, VJ Edgecombe, Ryan Kalkbrenner and Cedric Coward, who all rank in the top 150 in 9-cat leagues through Wednesday. And that class doesn’t stop there, as I anticipate Dylan Harper, Maxine Raynaud, Ace Bailey and a few others becoming rosterable guys in 12-team leagues as the season progresses.

Still can’t turn injuries off …

One of the defining fantasy storylines this season has been the rise of calf injuries to star players. The season began without Jayson Tatum, Tyrese Haliburton and Damian Lillard, who all went down with Achilles tears last year, leaving teams extra cautious around any lower-extremity injury. There’s been a reported 40% increase in calf strains through December. Fortunately, these strains haven’t led to mass shutdowns; they have caused short absences, maintenance days and minute restrictions for players like Evan Mobley, Austin Reaves, Anthony Davis, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Ja Morant, Jrue Holiday, Karl-Anthony Towns and more. Missing those players for any number of games is a challenge that has forced fantasy managers to utilize their depth more than ever.

If I’m drafting now, I’d do some simple math to determine which players have played in at least 80% of the games this year. Most teams have played 30 games, so I’d be targeting the guys who’ve played at least 24, since availability matters. Insulate your stars with depth and flexibility so your roster can absorb short-term volatility.

Some draft mistakes have repeated themselves

The pitfalls have been consistent for a few years now, yet some of us can’t quit. Oft-injured players like LaMelo Ball, Anthony Davis, Zion Williamson, Joel Embiid and Kristaps Porziņģis have once again tested managers’ patience.

This isn’t about just fading these type of players — it’s about pricing in the risk. Cost matters. When these guys play, they still move the needle, but you have to have contingency plans ready to go. By this point in the season, you know exactly which stars require some coverage and which ones don’t.

The trade window is open, and fantasy value could swing

The NBA trade window is officially open at this point, and several struggling teams could reshape the fantasy landscape. The Bucks, Mavericks, Wizards, Grizzlies, Kings and Jazz are all teams to monitor, as movement could unlock new roles — or completely reset them.

Fantasy managers should keep an eye on potential headliners like Giannis Antetokounmpo, DeMar DeRozan, Ja Morant, Lauri Markkanen and Tyler Herro. Even rumors alone can shift usage trends, minutes and fantasy outlooks as teams might showcase their stars ahead of the deadline.

You might’ve also missed Yahoo’s newest fantasy hoops format

One of the most significant developments this season has been High Score, Yahoo’s newest fantasy basketball format. High Score offers the cleanest entry point into fantasy basketball thanks to its simple scoring, flexible lineups and emphasis on total production over daily micromanagement.

[It’s not too late to create or join a High Score league, a new way to play Fantasy Basketball on Yahoo with simple rosters and scoring]

Like fantasy football, the goal is to maximize your weekly total score to beat your opponent. In High Score, each of your six starter’s single-highest point total of the week counts toward your overall score. If you want a low-maintenance way to try out or get back into back fantasy hoops, High Score makes it easy. If you’re ready for more depth, 9-category and standard points leagues still reward managers willing to grind.

There’s still plenty of time to join a league, so get up to speed with our High Score 101, use the High Score 100 rankings to prep for a draft, and jump in as the NBA season hits its stride. No matter what format you pick, there’s a chance to compete for a fantasy championship at Yahoo!

The San Antonio Spurs are being overly cautious with Victor Wembanyama, who’s returning from a calf strain, but that has not hindered their upward trajectory.

Over the past five games (not including the loss in the NBA Cup Final), the Spurs have kept the Frenchman to 20.8 minutes per game as the franchise has gone undefeated.

Overall, the team has won seven consecutive games, not including the NBA Cup Finals, and on Christmas Day it faces a dominant Oklahoma City Thunder squad the Spurs have defeated twice in the past two weeks.

But what’s the ceiling for Wembanyama? And what does that mean for the Spurs and the rest of the league?

Let’s break it all down.

Victor Wembanyama is dominating in his limited playing time 

He’s averaging 17.8 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and two blocks per contest. 

Those are near All-Star numbers, all while playing under 21 minutes per game.

The 21-year-old is slowly becoming one of the league’s best rebounders, on top of already being the league’s best defender. 

He’s grabbing 13.9 boards per 36 minutes, and is at 11.8 per game for the season, while playing 30.6 minutes. 

These aren’t just gimmes, either. The 7-foot-5 center is outworking opponents, gathering inside position, reading angles on how the ball pops off the rim and positioning himself to optimize his own chances of grabbing the ball. 

It’s another step in what has been a ridiculous evolution as he’s becoming the league’s most dominant two-way force. 

Wembanyama is winning, too. Including the NBA Cup Finals loss, he’s lost just five total games this season, while helming the Spurs to 13 wins in the regular season. 

Fortunately, the organization won when he was sidelined too, going 9-3 in the 12 games he missed, in large part due to the play of De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Keldon Johnson and Harrison Barnes. 

The Spurs are currently second in the Western Conference, behind only the Thunder.

What’s next for Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs? 

Given the success they’ve had this season, and given the fact that Wembanyama will be extension-eligible after this season, it’s becoming increasingly clear the Spurs must consider making a move sooner than later. 

When Wembanyama’s inevitable extension triggers in 2027-28, that’s going to take up, presumably, 30% of the salary cap if he qualifies for the Derrick Rose Rule.

That means San Antonio is working with a very set window, to the point where you might be inclined to say they have a deadline of July 1, 2027.

With the organization still in possession of numerous draft selections, a plethora of young players, and even expiring contracts, the Spurs have virtually everything to make a push for another star. 

They seem set at guard, with Fox, Castle and rookie Dylan Harper all playing well. 

They’re somewhat short on the wing and could use a genuine 3&D threat who is on the right side of 6-8 and can play both forward spots. 

There’s also the question of whether it makes sense to upgrade the two-guard spot. 

(While Devin Vassell has played fairly well, it’s fair to ask questions about his long-term fit and role with the franchise, especially considering he’s earning almost $27 million per season.) 

This isn’t to say the Spurs should in any way panic and make a move just for the hell of it. That’d be poor judgment, and it’d be poor process. 

However, they must be aware of the timeline, and that means taking calls, as well as placing them, in an effort to find the right recipe of players to put alongside Wembanyama for the years to come. 

The San Antonio Spurs are being overly cautious with Victor Wembanyama, who’s returning from a calf strain, but that has not hindered their upward trajectory.

Over the past five games (not including the loss in the NBA Cup Final), the Spurs have kept the Frenchman to 20.8 minutes per game as the franchise has gone undefeated.

Overall, the team has won seven consecutive games, not including the NBA Cup Finals, and on Christmas Day it faces a dominant Oklahoma City Thunder squad the Spurs have defeated twice in the past two weeks.

But what’s the ceiling for Wembanyama? And what does that mean for the Spurs and the rest of the league?

Let’s break it all down.

Victor Wembanyama is dominating in his limited playing time 

He’s averaging 17.8 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and two blocks per contest. 

Those are near All-Star numbers, all while playing under 21 minutes per game.

The 21-year-old is slowly becoming one of the league’s best rebounders, on top of already being the league’s best defender. 

He’s grabbing 13.9 boards per 36 minutes, and is at 11.8 per game for the season, while playing 30.6 minutes. 

These aren’t just gimmes, either. The 7-foot-5 center is outworking opponents, gathering inside position, reading angles on how the ball pops off the rim and positioning himself to optimize his own chances of grabbing the ball. 

It’s another step in what has been a ridiculous evolution as he’s becoming the league’s most dominant two-way force. 

Wembanyama is winning, too. Including the NBA Cup Finals loss, he’s lost just five total games this season, while helming the Spurs to 13 wins in the regular season. 

Fortunately, the organization won when he was sidelined too, going 9-3 in the 12 games he missed, in large part due to the play of De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Keldon Johnson and Harrison Barnes. 

The Spurs are currently second in the Western Conference, behind only the Thunder.

What’s next for Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs? 

Given the success they’ve had this season, and given the fact that Wembanyama will be extension-eligible after this season, it’s becoming increasingly clear the Spurs must consider making a move sooner than later. 

When Wembanyama’s inevitable extension triggers in 2027-28, that’s going to take up, presumably, 30% of the salary cap if he qualifies for the Derrick Rose Rule.

That means San Antonio is working with a very set window, to the point where you might be inclined to say they have a deadline of July 1, 2027.

With the organization still in possession of numerous draft selections, a plethora of young players, and even expiring contracts, the Spurs have virtually everything to make a push for another star. 

They seem set at guard, with Fox, Castle and rookie Dylan Harper all playing well. 

They’re somewhat short on the wing and could use a genuine 3&D threat who is on the right side of 6-8 and can play both forward spots. 

There’s also the question of whether it makes sense to upgrade the two-guard spot. 

(While Devin Vassell has played fairly well, it’s fair to ask questions about his long-term fit and role with the franchise, especially considering he’s earning almost $27 million per season.) 

This isn’t to say the Spurs should in any way panic and make a move just for the hell of it. That’d be poor judgment, and it’d be poor process. 

However, they must be aware of the timeline, and that means taking calls, as well as placing them, in an effort to find the right recipe of players to put alongside Wembanyama for the years to come.