Victor Wembanyama Breaks Silence on Spurs' Failed Kevin Durant Trade

Wembanyama wasn't much sweating that.

“Breaking up a young core for a single player rarely works," Wembanyama told Maxime Aubin in his first interview since the end of the regular season. "I want the Spurs to be a balanced team, they’ve been masters of that in that past.”

Acquiring Durant from the flailing Suns would have likely taken Vassell and perhaps another core rotation piece a la Barnes — even after considering Phoenix's lack of leverage. Ultimately, the 36-year-old scorer was dealt to the Houston Rockets in exchange for Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green and the No. 10 overall pick, which turned into Khaman Maluach.

In the Spurs' case, while neither Vassell or Barnes led the team in scoring or otherwise, Wembanyama is in line with the front office's vision of patience.

This offseason, that meant no Durant.

“We put one foot in front of the other," Spurs general manager Brian Wright said following the 2025 NBA Draft. "Head down. And hopefully we look up someday and we’re right where we want to be.”

As the Spurs continue to pine for Western Conference contention, they'll continue along the path set forth before Wembanyama's arrival. They'll build around their superstar while keeping their core as intact as it can be.

And even without Durant, they'll still find themselves in the mix of postseason teams come next spring. Especially with Wembanyama given the green light for Year 3.