Victor Wembanyama says his decision to sign a five-year, $252 million extension below the supermax was made to give the San Antonio Spurs the best chance to compete for championships over the long term.
The new deal, which begins with the 2027-28 season, starts at 25 percent of the salary cap instead of the 30 percent supermax he was eligible to receive.
The structure is expected to save the Spurs roughly $50 million, providing additional flexibility to improve the roster in future years.
Speaking with The Athletic after being named the cover athlete for NBA 2K27, Wembanyama explained why helping the franchise was more important than maximizing his earnings.
“We have a good team, we had a very good playoff run, and we had a very good regular season. But what’s even better and greater is our potential,” said Wembanyama.
“The reality of today’s NBA is that often, the potential of teams is not fulfilled because of money. I just want to make sure it’s never our case.”
In his first three NBA seasons, Wembanyama has appeared in 181 regular-season games for the Spurs, posting averages of 23.4 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.5 blocks.
The French star has already been named an All-Star twice, along with capturing Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Victor Wembanyama: Discount Meant To Keep Money From Limiting Spurs’ Title Chances https://t.co/P92oCSmDNH
— RealGM (@RealGM) July 22, 2026
