WEMBANYAMA'S WOW MOMENTS

On a cold March night in Memphis, Tennessee,Victor Wembanyamaplopped down in a seat in the visitors locker room at FedExForum and plunged one foot into an orange cooler filled with ice and water.

Off to Wembanyama's right,Devin Vasselldressed in the corner, leaving the Frenchman reluctant to start his postgame interview. So, Wembanyama told the small group of reporters near his locker that he'd start his availability once everybody stopped recording on their phones.

"I've got your back," he told Vassell, who was still dressing.

As Wembanyama took the first question, he noticed someone recording.

"Are you still recording?" he asked.

"No, no, no," a reporter replied. "We stopped. We stopped"

A Spurs staffer noticed they hadn't. Wembanyama did, too.

So, he grabbed his phone, turned on the flashlight and pointed it at the group while looking away and imitating the reporter.

Feigning innocence with his eyes wide open, a giggling Wembanyama joked, "No, I'm not [recording]." Teammates, staffers and the group of reporters erupted in laughter. The gag turned into one of Wembanyama's most entertaining playsoffthe court.

Seconds later, he struggled to lock down his best momentsonthe court.

"There were a lot of highlights in the first game, in the season opener," Wembanyama told EasyChamp. "Like, that reverse and-1 dunk I had [in the season opener against the Mavericks]. I don't think that's my best dunk. But in the moment, [it had] the best reaction. Actually, no, it's the cross onDereck Livelygoing back to the and-1 3[-pointer]. It had the best reaction. That's my favorite."

That same night in Memphis, Spurs coach Mitch Johnson racked his brain trying to think of his top Wembanyama plays.

"My favorite Victor plays typically start with him in a defensive stance," Johnson said. "And I say that because when you really watch the film, when he's in a stance, that typically means he's switched on mentally.

"As we sprint and transition from defense to offense, he throws an absolute strike to one of his teammates for a 3-point shot. Every now and then, he gets it back for a dunk. Those wow highlights get so much attention. The other plays are just as impressive. That sequence at times can blow you away, and maybe we are starting at times to not even allow it to blow us away. That's not doing those player sequences justice."

The second-most viewed player on the NBA's social media channels (2.43 billion) this season, behindLeBron James(2.85 billion), Wembanyama has produced plenty of stunning viral moments, with more likely on deck starting Sunday when theSan Antonio Spurshost their first playoff series since 2017 against thePortland Trail Blazers.

To get ready for Wembanyama's postseason debut, here's a list of 10 notable plays and moments from the 2025-26 regular season in chronological order based on his favorites and informal polling among his coaches and teammates.

Spurs guardStephon Castlelit up when discussing the play, calling the moment "a turning point in the game," that "we were definitely hyped about."

With 8:28 remaining in the second quarter of San Antonio's season-opening victory at Dallas, Castle ran the floor screaming, "Rim, Vic! Rim! Rim! Rim!"

Wembanyama immediately pushed off on a trailingDwight Powellto gain one last burst of speed to the basket. From just past the Mavericks' center-court logo, Castle floated a lob that Wembanyama plucked out of the air for a reverse two-handed dunk.

Dallas quickly called a timeout as Wembanyama and Castle celebrated with a leaping shoulder bump.

We're still in Dallas for one of Wembanyama's favorite plays. In his first regular-season game since deep vein thrombosisprematurely ended his 2024-25 campaign, Wembanyama spoiled the debut of Mavericks rookie and No. 1 pickCooper Flaggwith a 40-point, 15-rebound performance.

With 2:47 left in the second quarter, Wembanyama caught a pass from rookie guardDylan Harper. One quick pump fake luredP.J. Washingtonoff his feet, giving Wembanyama room to drive baseline asAnthony Davisstepped over to help, but it was too late. The 22-year-old unleashed aferocious reverse dunk on Davis, who was whistled for a foul. Wembanyama hit the subsequent free throw to give San Antonio a 50-48 lead.

"I looked at the bench and said, "What the f---?" Spurs forwardKeldon Johnsontold EasyChamp. "I'm sorry, but that was crazy."

Wembanyama and teammateJulian Champagniestood at the scorer's table at American Airlines Center talking after the play, admiring Wemby's work.

"That was niiiice," Wembanyama said.

It's worth mentioning one last play from the opener at American Airlines Center -- a four-point sequence that featured Wembanyama's deep bag of gifts.

Dribbling up the floor, Wembanyama wasn't about to miss an opportunity to beat Lively in a one-on-one matchup. He pulled off a crossover dribble to his left, stepped forward, then back, dribbled through his legs and then behind the back. Then, the 7-foot-4 star rose for a step-back 3-pointer with Lively tightly defending him.

Officials whistled Lively for a foul after Wembanyama landed on his foot on the follow-through. On the floor, with his fists stacked, Wembanymana churned his hands in a circular motion to say that he was "cooking". Vassell,Harrison Barnesand Castle ran over to congratulate Wembanyama on the play. Meanwhile,Harrison IngramhuggedBismack Biyomboon the bench as the rest of the Spurs mimicked Wembanyama's stirring of the pot. Wembanyama converted the four-point play by hitting the ensuing free throw.

He said the team needed to make a statement in the opener.

"Because I haven't seen us win an opening-night game," he said. "We're on the road, and we've stepped up so many things in the way we work back home. So, it feels like it's time to move on to the next step. We needed to make a statement because we're all tired of losing. That's the truth."

Even after his 40-point season opener filled with highlights, Wembanyama surprised himself three games later versus Toronto.

"Never worked on that before," he said about the play, laughing. "That's the first."

Just four minutes into the contest, Wembanyama came off a Vassell screen, caught a pass from Barnes and took only one dribble to squeeze between defendersScottie BarnesandJakob Poeltlbefore launching into a 360-degree layup that he kissed off the glass for a bucket.

Wembanyama poured in 24 points with 15 rebounds, and the Spurs matched their best start in franchise history (4-0) after their 121-103 triumph.

On Nov. 12, in their first matchup this season,Stephen Curryscored 46 points to help the Warriors beat the Spurs despite triple-doubles from Wembanyama and Castle. Two days later, in an NBA Cup battle, San Antonio suffered a similar fate in a chippy affair, highlighted by a 49-point effort from Curry.

Still, Wembanyama left the floor that night with another viral highlight.

Area 51consists of Castle (jersey No. 5) and Wembanyama (No. 1), and usually features the former tossing lobs to the latter for breathtaking jams. This time, though, Wembanyama took matters into his own hands.

After dribbling pastDraymond Green, Wembanyama madeMoses Moodylunge with a pump fake, before tossing the ball off the glass for a two-handed dunk on a self alley-oop with 10:21 remaining in the third quarter. Wembanyama finished with 26 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks in 38 minutes as the Spurs lost their first contest of the NBA Cup.

Even two days after Christmas, Wembanyama was still in the gift-giving mood for the home fans at Frost Bank Center. By this point in the season, opponents should have known not to fall for his pump fake outside the 3-point line.

But this time,Lauri Markkanentook the bait, and his teammates paid the price.

As Markkanen flew past on the pump fake, Wembanyama put the ball on the floor. Two dribbles later, withCody Williams,Brice SensabaughandWalter Clayton Jr. attempting to help inside, Wembanyama bent back the rim for theloudest dunk of the night, posterizingKyle Filipowski, who was whistled for a foul with 8:49 remaining.

The first and only off-court highlight of this bunch is an impressive one, nonetheless.

During pregame warmups before the Spurs' 106-105 loss to the Grizzlies, four basketballs were lodged in the net in need of clearance. A nonissue for any other typical NBA player, but for Wembanyama, it presented an interesting opportunity to showcase some of theothertalents he accrued after spending his offseason at a Shaolin temple in Zhenzhou, China, meditating and participating inkung fu training.