The San Antonio Spurs have gone all in on 2023 first overall pick Victor Wembanyama, and it’s hard to find a reason why they aren’t one of the top teams in the NBA set up for success over the next decade.
While Wembanyama and the Spurs’ supporting cast have been strong to start the year, the franchise recently got news on another big project, which could change the trajectory of the team.
After the mid-term elections, the Spurs were approved to get funding for a new arena in downtown San Antonio. Plans on the potential arena upgrade have been in the works and publicly accessible for months, but local voters finally approved the change for their basketball team.
“The San Antonio Spurs are a major step closer to getting a new downtown home, after voters in Bexar County, Texas, approved a plan Tuesday to allow officials to commit up to $311 million in venue taxes to help build a multipurpose arena,” Tim Reynolds wrote for the Associated Press.
The Spurs currently play in the Frost Bank Center, which sits miles from downtown San Antonio. But now, with Wembanyama and high hopes for the franchise in the future, the team and the community have committed to giving the Spurs and their superstar a new home base.
Funding For The Spurs’ New Arena Is Approved
According to county officials, the funding was approved with 52% of the vote. But now, the Spurs are in line to build what could be a new type of arena, similar to that Steve Ballmer helped build for his Los Angeles Clippers.
“The community has spoken. We love this city, we love this county—and the county and the city love us back,” team owner Peter J. Holt said. “We’re ready to do something really special.”
It isn’t only the $311 million now at the Spurs’ fingertips, but rather a combined $1.3 billion that will go into the new arena, according to San Antonio-based news station KENS5. The city is expected to contribute a total of about $500 million to the project, while the franchise will match the rest, as well as overrun costs.
“Project Marvel is a sprawling downtown redevelopment project centered on the Hemisfair, located within walking distance from the riverwalk,” Jared Weiss wrote for The Athletic. “This development plan will not just include a new Spurs arena, but it will also redevelop the aging Alamodome to position it for a potential NFL expansion franchise down the road.”
While San Antonio had already floated the idea of finding a new home arena for years, the impact of Wembanyama’s arrival has certainly helped speed up the process. Though they are one of the smallest media markets in the NBA, the Spurs ranked ninth in total merchandise sales last season, with Wembanyama’s jersey being the sixth most sold.
The Spurs have their lease on the Frost Bank Center until 2032, and there is a chance it could take until that year hits before they are ready for the move.
Wembanyama’s Hot Start Puts Him In Line For Multiple Awards
While a potential new arena is big news for the five-time champions, the strong start to the season for Wembanyama has been bigger news. In the first week of the year, he won the Western Conference Player of the Week award with averages of 33.3 points, 13.3 rebounds, and six blocks per game.
Since then, the scoring numbers have dropped slightly, especially after a nine-point game against the Phoenix Suns, but the impact he brings is still easy to see. Still, he is currently 12th in scoring, third in rebounding, and remains a menace for opponents to try to figure out how to stop. If the Spurs keep their winning ways, and the star keeps up these numbers, he’ll continue to be in the running for the MVP award.
Though he might not be putting up league-leading scoring numbers every night, Wembanyama is making one of the strongest cases in recent memory for the Defensive Player of the Year award.
He ranks first in blocks, with 4.7, more than two higher than the next player on the list. Additionally, San Antonio ranks second in defensive rating and defensive efficiency this season, only behind the Oklahoma City Thunder in both.
The Spurs have been getting strong performances from Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, and rookie Dylan Harper while De’Aaron Fox recovers from injury, but it’s chiefly been Wembanyama behind their success.
The star has also been healthy to begin the year, which, if he stays that way, could be even more dangerous for the rest of the league. While Wembanyama showed potential in his first two NBA seasons, 2025-26 appears to be the year in which he takes the biggest leap, so far, of his career.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Spurs Get Major Franchise News For Victor Wembanyama’s Future appeared first on Heavy Sports.