Victor Wembanyama just locked down a massive five-year, $252 million max rookie-scale contract extension with the San Antonio Spurs, a deal that includes a player option in that fifth season. ESPN’s Shams Charania broke the news, and according to Michael C. Wright, Wemby actually chose the 25% maximum over the 30% supermax, which could have escalated to $303 million. That decision, made after multiple frameworks were considered, could save the Spurs roughly $50 million over the next five years. After losing the NBA Finals to the New York Knicks last season, mostly thanks to late-game blunders, the Spurs definitely feel a different vibe heading into this year, and locking up their superstar was clearly the biggest move of the summer.
San Antonio’s Young Guns Are Ready to Go Nuclear
But it is not just Wembanyama setting the tone. The young talent in San Antonio is absolutely insane, with Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle already drawing some serious comparisons. NBA legend Charles Barkley didn’t hold back, saying, “If I’m a guard in the NBA, I do not want to see them boys the next 10 years. They’re going to be the new Steph and Klay.” Talk about high praise! These dudes are being hyped up to be the next generation’s Splash Brothers, and that’s exactly the kind of talent you want emerging early in the season.
Dylan Harper’s Internal Ranking Is Wild
Here is where it gets really interesting, and it should have every Spurs fan hyped to see what’s coming. Harper is gonna be one of the most intriguing players to watch this season as he looks to take an even bigger leap. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst dropped a bombshell, reporting that the Spurs internally view Dylan Harper higher than both De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle. Windhorst flat out said, “The Spurs internally believe Dylan Harper is their second best player. That’s not a slight on De’Aaron Fox or Stephon Castle. Harper is a stud.” That is a massive vote of confidence from the organization. It is clear they have some huge things planned for the lefty guard. He really came alive in the summer playoffs, showing he can handle those big moments, and San Antonio believes it is just a matter of time before he completely takes off.
With Wemby locked into a smart deal that gives the team flexibility and a young guard like Harper getting this kind of internal praise, this season has some wild potential for the Spurs. They’re clearly building something special, and it sounds like the future is coming fast.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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