​Jun 5, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) looks on in the second half during game two of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn ImagesSince the day the San Antonio Spurs drafted him, Victor Wembanyama was destined to become the face of the franchise. In just three years, the 22-year-old has improved significantly, already establishing himself as one of the league’s best players. Interestingly enough, all of this seems to have been part of the Spurs’ grand plan.At the time of the 2023 NBA Draft, the San Antonio Spurs were arguably among the worst teams in the league, having ended the 2022-23 season with a 22-60 record. After letting go of several key players over the years, it was clear that the Spurs were headed for a rebuild. But in an episode of “Hard Knocks,” Spurs GM Brian Wright revealed it was all guided by the pursuit of Victor Wembanyama.While responding to Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike MacDonald’s question about Wembanyama, Wright shared:“He was 19… Our CEO actually saw him. He was in the gym, just happened to be in the gym, and actually wasn’t planning to see him. He [Wembanyama] was 16 or was just about to turn 16. He came back after his trip and said, ‘I think I saw the greatest I’ve ever seen in my life.’ Literally, 12 months later, we put a plan in motion to turn the team over and have a chance to draft him in a couple of years.”At just 16, Victor Wembanyama had already started generating some buzz after a clip of him scoring against reigning DPOY Rudy Gobert went viral on social media. Although many people took note of the talented French prospect back then, the Spurs clearly had a far more detailed strategy.According to reports, Spurs CEO R.C. Buford saw Victor Wembanyama in May 2019. Before the 2019-20 season, the Spurs were still a solid playoff team. However, shortly after Buford’s return, San Antonio’s downfall began.Between 2019 and 2023, the Spurs did not have a single season with more than 35 wins, with the 2022-23 season’s 22 wins being the poorest. However, given how it improved their chances of landing Wembanyama, one could say San Antonio embraced the dynasty route.Mitch Johnson also shared a brief statement about Wembanyama and what drives him, commenting:“He’s that amazing. Of all the goals, he wants to be the best player ever. No question. He’d tell you that without a blink. Like, ‘I want to be the best player ever,’ which is a crazy statement. He’s never done anything that puts himself above the team ever.”Needless to say, the Spurs’ plans paid off. In just his first season, Victor Wembanyama displayed the potential to be one of the league’s best defensive players. Now, three years down the line, the Spurs’ center was named the first unanimous DPOY in NBA history and also finished third in MVP voting.Although the losing trend continued even after Victor Wembanyama was drafted, it