Victor Wembanyama’s ten best highlights from the 2025-26 NBA season
On a chilly March evening in Memphis, Tennessee, Victor Wembanyama settled into a chair in the visitors’ locker room at FedExForum and submerged one foot into an orange cooler filled with ice and water.
To Wembanyama’s right, Devin Vassell was getting dressed in the corner, which made the French player hesitant to begin his postgame interview. Consequently, Wembanyama informed the small group of reporters near his locker that he would commence his availability once everyone ceased recording on their phones.
“I’ve got your back,” he assured Vassell, who was still in the process of dressing.
As Wembanyama addressed the first question, he noticed someone was still recording.
“Are you still recording?” he inquired.
“No, no, no,” a reporter responded. “We stopped. We stopped.”
A Spurs staff member observed that they had not. Wembanyama noticed it as well.
Thus, he picked up his phone, activated the flashlight, and directed it at the group while looking away and mimicking the reporter.
Feigning innocence with wide eyes, a chuckling Wembanyama quipped, “No, I’m not [recording].” Teammates, staff, and the group of reporters burst into laughter. The jest became one of Wembanyama’s most amusing moments off the court.
Shortly after, he found it challenging to pinpoint his best moments on the court.
“There were numerous highlights in the first game, in the season opener,” Wembanyama shared with ESPN. “Like, that reverse and-1 dunk I had [in the season opener against the Mavericks]. I don’t believe that’s my best dunk. But in that moment, [it had] the best reaction. Actually, no, it’s the crossover on Dereck Lively leading to the and-1 3[-pointer]. It had the best reaction. That’s my favorite.”
That same night in Memphis, Spurs coach Mitch Johnson pondered his top Wembanyama plays.
“My favorite Victor plays usually begin with him in a defensive stance,” Johnson remarked. “And I mention that because when you truly analyze the film, when he’s in a stance, it typically indicates he’s mentally engaged.
“As we sprint and transition from defense to offense, he delivers an absolute strike to one of his teammates for a 3-point shot. Occasionally, he receives it back for a dunk. Those highlight-reel moments garner significant attention. The other plays are equally impressive. That sequence can sometimes astonish you, and perhaps we are starting to overlook it at times. That doesn’t do those player sequences justice.”
Wembanyama, the second-most viewed player on the NBA’s social media platforms (2.43 billion) this season, trailing only LeBron James (2.85 billion), has generated numerous breathtaking viral moments, with more anticipated as the San Antonio Spurs prepare to host their first playoff series since 2017 against the Portland Trail Blazers starting Sunday.
In anticipation of Wembanyama’s postseason debut, here is a compilation of 10 significant plays and moments from the 2025-26 regular season, arranged chronologically based on his favorites and informal polling among his coaches and teammates.
Area 51 reverse alley-oop jam, Oct. 22 at Dallas Mavericks
Spurs guard Stephon Castle beamed while discussing the play, labeling it “a turning point in the game,” that “we were definitely hyped about.”
With 8:28 left in the second quarter of San Antonio’s season-opening win at Dallas, Castle raced down the floor shouting, “Rim, Vic! Rim! Rim! Rim!”
Wembanyama quickly pushed off a trailing Dwight Powell to gain one last burst of speed toward the basket. From just beyond the Mavericks’ center-court logo, Castle floated a lob that Wembanyama snatched out of the air for a reverse two-handed dunk.
Dallas promptly called a timeout as Wembanyama and Castle celebrated with a leaping shoulder bump.
Reverse, and-1 dunk, Oct. 22 at Dallas
We remain in Dallas for one of Wembanyama’s favorite plays. In his first regular-season game since deep vein thrombosis prematurely ended his 2024-25 season, Wembanyama spoiled the debut of Mavericks rookie and No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg with a 40-point, 15-rebound performance.
With 2:47 remaining in the second quarter, Wembanyama received a pass from rookie guard Dylan Harper. A quick pump fake drew P.J. Washington off his feet, allowing Wembanyama to drive baseline as Anthony Davis stepped over to assist, but it was too late. The 22-year-old unleashed a powerful reverse dunk on Davis, who was called for a foul. Wembanyama converted the subsequent free throw to give San Antonio a 50-48 lead.
“I looked at the bench and said, ‘What the f—?'” Spurs forward Keldon Johnson told ESPN. “I’m sorry, but that was crazy.”
Wembanyama and teammate Julian Champagnie stood at the scorer’s table at American Airlines Center discussing the play, admiring Wemby’s effort.
“That was niiiice,” Wembanyama remarked.
Four-point play, Oct. 22 at Dallas
It’s worth noting one final play from the opener at American Airlines Centerβa four-point sequence that showcased Wembanyama’s extensive skill set.
Dribbling up the court, Wembanyama was determined not to miss an opportunity to outmaneuver Lively in a one-on-one situation. He executed a crossover dribble to his left, stepped forward, then back, dribbled through his legs, and then behind his back. Then, the 7-foot-4 star elevated for a step-back 3-pointer with Lively closely guarding him.
Splash.
Officials called Lively for a foul after Wembanyama landed on his foot during the follow-through. On the floor, with his fists stacked, Wembanyama rotated his hands in a circular motion to indicate that he was “cooking.” Vassell, Harrison Barnes, and Castle rushed over to congratulate Wembanyama on the play. Meanwhile, Harrison Ingram embraced Bismack Biyombo on the bench as the rest of the Spurs mimicked Wembanyama’s stirring of the pot. Wembanyama completed the four-point play by sinking the ensuing free throw.
He stated that the team needed to make a statement in the opener.
“Because I haven’t seen us win an opening-night game,” he said. “We’re on the road, and we’ve elevated so many aspects of how we work back home. So, it feels like it’s time to progress to the next step. We needed to make a statement because we’re all tired of losing. That’s the truth.”
360 layup, Oct. 27 vs. Toronto Raptors
Even after his 40-point season opener filled with highlights, Wembanyama astonished himself three games later against Toronto.
“Never worked on that before,” he said about the play, laughing. “That’s the first.”
Just four minutes into the game, Wembanyama came off a Vassell screen, received a pass from Barnes, and took only one dribble to squeeze between defenders Scottie Barnes and Jakob Poeltl before launching into a 360-degree layup that he kissed off the glass for a score.
Wembanyama scored 24 points with 15 rebounds, and the Spurs matched their best start in franchise history (4-0) following their 121-103 victory.
Self alley-oop, Nov. 14 vs. Golden State Warriors
On Nov. 12, in their first matchup this season, Stephen Curry scored 46 points to lead the Warriors past the Spurs despite triple-doubles from Wembanyama and Castle. Two days later, in an NBA Cup clash, San Antonio faced a similar outcome in a physical contest, highlighted by a 49-point performance from Curry.
Nevertheless, Wembanyama exited the floor that night with another viral highlight.
Area 51 consists of Castle (jersey No. 5) and Wembanyama (No. 1), and typically features the former tossing lobs to the latter for breathtaking dunks. This time, however, Wembanyama took control.
After dribbling past Draymond Green, Wembanyama made Moses Moody lunge with a pump fake, before bouncing the ball off the glass for a two-handed dunk on a self alley-oop with 10:21 left in the third quarter. Wembanyama concluded the game with 26 points, 12 rebounds, and three blocks in 38 minutes as the Spurs suffered their first defeat of the NBA Cup.
Poster dunk, Dec. 27 vs. Utah Jazz
Even two days after Christmas, Wembanyama was still in the mood to entertain the home crowd at Frost Bank Center. By this stage in the season, opponents should have been aware not to fall for his pump fake beyond the 3-point line.
However, this time, Lauri Markkanen took the bait, and his teammates paid the consequences.
As Markkanen flew past on the pump fake, Wembanyama put the ball on the floor. Two dribbles later, with Cody Williams, Brice Sensabaugh, and Walter Clayton Jr. attempting to assist inside, Wembanyama bent back the rim for the loudest dunk of the night, posterizing Kyle Filipowski, who was called for a foul with 8:49 remaining.
Kung-Fu Wemby, Jan. 6 at Memphis Grizzlies
The first and only off-court highlight in this collection is an impressive one, nonetheless.
During pregame warmups before the Spurs’ 106-105 loss to the Grizzlies, four basketballs were stuck in the net needing clearance. A nonissue for any other typical NBA player, but for Wembanyama, it presented an intriguing opportunity to display some of the other skills he developed after spending his offseason at a Shaolin temple in Zhenzhou, China, meditating and engaging in kung fu training.
With one small leap, Wembanyama kicked one of the balls loose from the net.
“It’s been done before,” he said modestly.
When informed that there are others capable of kicking as high as the rim, Wembanyama retorted, “I can beat that. I’m confident.”
Windmill dunk, Feb. 21 vs. Sacramento Kings
When Barnes reminded Johnson of this play, he exclaimed, “Oooh! I forgot about that one.”
De’Aaron Fox drove toward the center of the floor and passed it out to Barnes, who then swung the ball to Wembanyama at the 3-point arc. He took only one dribble, and the defenders in the lane immediately parted for him as he executed a two-handed windmill dunk. Naturally, Wembanyama is known for doing things his own way, so it’s no surprise that his windmill flowed clockwise instead of the usual counterclockwise motion.
Sacramento defenders DeMar DeRozan, Nique Clifford, Daeqwon Plowden, Malik Monk, and fellow Frenchman Maxime Raynaud could only watch in disbelief as Wembanyama soared for the slam.
“Every time, I’m amazed,” Johnson stated.
No-look block, March 8 vs. Houston Rockets
Tari Eason’s mother, Teroya, has established quite a social media presence and does not hold back, even with her son. In the second quarter of the Spurs’ decisive victory over Houston, the Rockets forward advanced the ball in transition while Wembanyama drifted back to guard center Alperen Sengun.
With Champagnie defending Eason, and Wembanyama still on Sengun, the Rockets’ forward drove on Champagnie. What Eason likely did not realize was that Wembanyama was enticing him at the rim to take the shot. Just as Eason slipped past Champagnie with an up-and-under move, Wembanyama stepped over at the last moment and blocked the shot into the crowd.
Wembanyama has had his share of blocks this regular season, leading the league in blocks (197) for the third consecutive season. However, this one was probably the loudest and, at the very least, it elicited a humorous reaction from Eason’s mother.
First buzzer beater, March 19 vs. Phoenix Suns
With his team down 100-99, it required composure for Wembanyama to dribble 9.7 seconds off the clock. But that was necessary to assess the defense before stepping right, taking one dribble, and hitting a go-ahead 17-foot fadeaway over Oso Ighodaro with 1.1 seconds remaining in the game.
The basket secured San Antonio’s first postseason berth since 2019 and marked Wembanyama’s first go-ahead basket in the final five seconds of the fourth quarter or overtime in his career, following five previous misses in that situation, according to ESPN Research.
“As you get older, you become less affected by those moments,” said Fox, the inaugural NBA Clutch Player of the Year. “He isn’t fazed by them right now. He is just going to keep growing, continue to improve, and remain comfortable in those situations.”
