Wembanyama agrees to Spurs extension reportedly worth $252 million
ESPN reported the San Antonio star’s maximum rookie-scale extension runs five years and includes a player option for the final season.
By Sofia Marchetti · World Affairs Correspondent
2 min read
Victor Wembanyama has signed a multiyear extension with the San Antonio Spurs, keeping one of the NBA’s top young players tied to the franchise after a Finals run. ESPN reported that the agreement is a five-year, $252 million maximum rookie-scale extension.
Reuters reported that the deal averages $50.4 million per season and includes a player option for the fifth year. The Spurs announced the signing with photos and video of Wembanyama putting pen to paper, but the team did not disclose the financial terms.
Wembanyama had signaled his plans earlier Friday in a message to supporters. “Spurs family, I’m here to stay,” he wrote on X. “Whatever it takes.”
The extension formalizes San Antonio’s long-term commitment to the 7-foot-4 center, whom the Spurs selected with the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Reuters described Wembanyama as one of basketball’s leading young talents since before he entered the league.
Through three NBA seasons, Wembanyama has averaged 23.4 points, 11 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.5 blocks per game, according to Reuters. He has also led the league in blocked shots in each season since joining San Antonio.
His most recent season raised his profile further. Reuters reported that Wembanyama won Defensive Player of the Year, made the All-NBA first team for the first time and finished third in Most Valuable Player voting.
He also posted career-best averages of 25.0 points and 11.5 rebounds per game this season, according to Reuters. From long range, he has shot 34.2% for his career while making 2.2 three-pointers per game.
San Antonio’s season ended last month against the New York Knicks, who beat the Spurs in five games in Wembanyama’s first NBA Finals appearance, Reuters reported. The run gave the Spurs a glimpse of what they hope will be a longer contention window built around him.
The roster around Wembanyama includes guards De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell and Dylan Harper, according to Reuters. San Antonio also recently added veteran forward Tobias Harris.
For the Spurs, the reported maximum extension removes any near-term uncertainty over the center of their plans. For Wembanyama, it gives him a long runway in San Antonio after three seasons that have already produced elite defensive numbers, All-NBA recognition and a trip to the Finals.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.