Maybe it wasn’t supposed to happen this fast.

When the Spurs selected Victor Wembanyama with the No. 1 pick just over two years ago, even the most optimistic observers believed this would be a process – a slow, steady climb back to contention. A rebuild, even one with a generational talent at the center, usually takes time.

But time seems irrelevant when the player redefining the game is 7-foot-5 with the coordination of a guard, the mindset of a superstar, and the work ethic of someone who refuses to lose.

The Spurs are 4-0 – their best start in years – and there’s nothing accidental about it.

They’re organized, confident, and locked in. More than anything, they’re hungry.

“I was confronted with the possibility of more losing,” Wembanyama said recently after a win. “I don’t want it anymore, and I’m not taking this for granted.”

That declaration feels like the pulse of San Antonio’s resurgence. A team that was once patient with its rebuild has flipped a switch – and it’s largely because its centerpiece refuses to accept mediocrity.

The arrival of an Alien

It’s hard to describe what Wembanyama is doing without running out of adjectives.

After a transformative offseason – one that saw him train with Shaolin monks in China to improve his balance and discipline, and later with Jamal Crawford, Kevin Garnett, and Hakeem Olajuwon to refine his offensive arsenal – the 21-year-old phenom has returned with a skillset that borders on surreal.

He’s no longer just blocking shots, shooting threes, and dunking over smaller defenders. Now he’s hitting fadeaway jumpers from the elbow, using up-fakes to draw fouls, bumping shoulders into defenders before finishing with thunderous dunks, and even stepping back for threes with the confidence of a seasoned perimeter scorer.

The dribbling exhibitions have become routine – behind-the-back escapes, crossovers into pull-ups – sequences that leave crowds in awe and opponents shaking their heads.

It’s one thing for a 6-foot-6 guard to play that way. It’s another for a 7-foot-5 unicorn to move like one.

This is why his nickname, The Alien, has never felt more appropriate. There is simply no one else on Earth doing what he does, at his size, with this level of fluidity and command.

And yet, what separates Wembanyama from mere spectacle is that he’s winning. He’s not just filling highlight reels – he’s dictating outcomes, and he’s doing it with ease and efficiency.

The Spurs are done waiting

For years, the Spurs were content to play the long game – drafting, developing, and letting the process unfold naturally. But this season, the tone has shifted.

The front office has built a roster that complements Wembanyama’s strengths, not one that simply incubates his growth. The message is clear: San Antonio wants to win around Wemby as soon as possible.

The additions reflect that intent. Veteran big man Luke Kornet was one of the most underrated offseason signings — a versatile, high-IQ center who provides stability off the bench and, in certain matchups, can even share the floor with Wembanyama. His screening, rim protection, and feel for spacing have given the Spurs another layer of tactical flexibility.

Meanwhile, Stephon Castle has continued his rise after a Rookie of the Year campaign last season. His confidence and composure have carried over seamlessly, giving the Spurs another defensive-minded guard who thrives alongside Wembanyama in the pick-and-roll on offense.

Then there’s Dylan Harper, the No. 2 overall pick – a rookie who already looks like he belongs. Harper plays with veteran poise, attacking downhill, creating paint touches at will, and finding teammates for open looks. His chemistry with Wembanyama is growing fast, their connection already producing a steady stream of lobs, pick-and-pop plays, and two-man sequences that feel unstoppable when in rhythm.

Around them, the Spurs have surrounded their star with players who fit perfectly within his ecosystem.

Devin Vassell continues to blossom into a three-level scorer, equally capable of spacing the floor or creating his own shot. Harrison Barnes, Julian Champagnie, and Keldon Johnson fill the wing rotation with ideal 3-and-D versatility – long, disciplined defenders who can hit shots, cut at the right times, and have enough on-ball offensive chops for stretches when needed.

And the Spurs aren’t even at full strength yet. Both De’Aaron Fox and Jeremy Sochan are set to return soon – the former adding All-Star explosiveness to the backcourt, the latter bringing defensive fire and playmaking to the front line. Once they’re reintegrated, the Spurs could ascend even higher.

This is the Wembanyama Way

But make no mistake: this is Victor Wembanyama’s team. 

Everything – from the pace they play at to the way they defend – starts and ends with him.

He’s become a one-man ecosystem, dictating both ends of the floor in ways few players can. On defense, he erases shots that shouldn’t be blockable and alters possessions before they even begin. Offensively, he’s evolved into a complete offensive engine, capable of creating advantages from anywhere on the floor.

There’s a maturity in his approach now – a deeper understanding of timing, positioning, and patience. His body language, once cautious and learning, now carries the quiet assurance of a superstar who knows he belongs.

In many ways, it mirrors the Spurs’ transformation. The organization that once defined patience is now moving with urgency. The team that once hoped for competitiveness is now demanding it.

And it all stems from Wembanyama’s mindset. When he said he didn’t want to lose anymore, it wasn’t just a soundbite, but it was a cultural shift.

The Spurs’ 4-0 start is the evidence of a young team discovering itself faster than anyone expected, and it is more than just a hot streak to start the season.

They’re not chasing moral victories anymore. They’re playing with the swagger of a group that knows it belongs among the elite. There will still be growing pains, that’s inevitable for any young roster. But for the first time since the end of the glory days of their two-decade dynasty, San Antonio basketball feels alive again.

And it’s because they have something no one else does.

A 7-foot-5 alien who moves like a guard, thinks like a veteran, and leads like a champion.

Victor Wembanyama has arrived, and this is only the beginning. The rest of the league should take notice, because Wemby and the Spurs have arrived ahead of schedule