Spurs without Victor Wembanyama are proving that they are a legitimate opponent for Wembi

To win in the modern NBA, you need two things: a transcendent superstar and a roster full of athletic playmakers who can also play good to great defense. That’s typical was a draft for most NBA champions throughout history, and that hasn’t changed in this new era of the league. With Victor Wembanyama is back in the lineupI believe that San Antonio Spurs they have what it takes to be among the league’s true contenders.

Many people doubt their effectiveness as winners, believing they are several years away from truly challenging the Thunder and Nuggets in the West. But I think the Spurs have what it takes to shake up the Western Conference playoff picture, and there’s no better proof than how the Spurs got by with Vembanjama without a calf strain.

In the modern NBA, the name of the game is depth. Gone are the days when a team thrived with one great player doing the heavy lifting and eleven average to good players heavily involved in the drive. There is simply too much talent in the league right now; even the worst rosters have scorers at three levels, expert playmakers and capable defenders. What separates average teams from championship teams is how the roster fits into the coach’s scheme and how they ultimately complement their star.

Victor Vembanyama is an athletic prodigy. He stands at seven-foot-four, but possesses the dribbling ability of a point guard, the shooting ability of a traditional guard, the shooting ability of a small forward, the ability of an old-school post-up forward and the ability to break the paint and play suffocating defense as a center. He is truly an anomaly and a sign of the type of player we will see in the league for the next decade.

It’s not difficult to build around Wembanyama as the focus of your offense and defense, and the Spurs have managed to build a roster that complements his skill set. The acquisition of De’Aaron Fox was key to turning the Spurs into contenders, as he is the perfect play partner for a big man like Wembanyama; if Vembanjama is off the field or out of the lineup, Fox is able to find his own shot and orchestrate the attack.

Young stars like last year’s Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle and possible Rookie of the Year candidate this year, Dylan Harper, are the athletic, rebounding combo guards the Spurs need to succeed in the modern NBA. Then fill out the rest of the team with solid leads like Harrison Barnes, Luke Kornet, Keldon Johnson, and Julian Champagnie. Jeremy Sochan has been plagued by injuries, but he is sure to step up his contribution in his role when he returns.

Vembaniama’s absence showcased the talent of this roster. While Spurs’ numbers are certainly elite when Wembanjama is in the lineup, Spurs are able to maintain their effectiveness even when he’s off the field, and that’s a true sign of a contender.

I still think there are some changes that can be made offensively, such as adding more shooting. Currently, the Spurs are twelfth in the league in three-point shooting, hitting 36.9% from three on 36 attempts per game. I believe Wembanjama will improve in space as he matures as a player, and having skilled knockdown shooters around him, along with the athleticism he already has, would make Spurs even more dangerous.

But San Antonio is here now, and a huge win over the Oklahoma City Thunder to clinch an NBA Cup berth and a berth in the NBA Cup Finals with Vembanjam back in the lineup could prove the San Antonio Spurs are ready to contend for a championship. They have put the pieces together and are counting on Vembanyama to further develop into one of the greatest players to ever play the game.