play0:23Wemby somehow throws down reverse jam plus and-1Victor Wembanyama shows off with a nasty reverse dunk plus the foul down low in the third quarter.
play0:28Wemby does it all on both ends of courtVictor Wembanyama comes up with a massive block on one end then draws the foul while draining the 3-pointer on the other.
play0:18Wemby amazes with jaw-dropping 360 layup for SpursVictor Wembanyama improvises on his way to the basket to score for the Spurs.
play0:32Wemby fakes a 3, throws down vicious and-1 dunkVictor Wembanyama pump-fakes a three, then drives to the rim as he throws the hammer down with authority for the Spurs.
play0:22Wemby protects the rim with a massive swatVictor Wembanyama assertively rejects Tari Eason’s layup attempt for the Spurs.
play0:40Victor Wembanyama hits a tough go-ahead shot with 1 second leftVictor Wembanyama hits a midrange jumper to put the Spurs ahead with one second left.
Tim Legler: The Wembanyama era begins now with Spurs as a title threat (1:07)Tim Legler discusses why the Spurs are poised to make a deep playoff run and potentially win a championship. (1:07)
Wemby somehow throws down reverse jam plus and-1Victor Wembanyama shows off with a nasty reverse dunk plus the foul down low in the third quarter.
Wemby does it all on both ends of courtVictor Wembanyama comes up with a massive block on one end then draws the foul while draining the 3-pointer on the other.
Victor Wembanyama comes up with a massive block on one end then draws the foul while draining the 3-pointer on the other.
Wemby amazes with jaw-dropping 360 layup for SpursVictor Wembanyama improvises on his way to the basket to score for the Spurs.
Wemby fakes a 3, throws down vicious and-1 dunkVictor Wembanyama pump-fakes a three, then drives to the rim as he throws the hammer down with authority for the Spurs.
Victor Wembanyama pump-fakes a three, then drives to the rim as he throws the hammer down with authority for the Spurs.
Wemby protects the rim with a massive swatVictor Wembanyama assertively rejects Tari Eason’s layup attempt for the Spurs.
Victor Wembanyama hits a tough go-ahead shot with 1 second leftVictor Wembanyama hits a midrange jumper to put the Spurs ahead with one second left.
Michael C. WrightMultiple AuthorsApr 17, 2026, 07:00 AM ET
Area 51 reverse alley-oop jam, Oct. 22 at Dallas Mavericks
On a cold March night in Memphis, Tennessee, Victor Wembanyama plopped 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 Vassell dressed 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.
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 plays off the court.
“There were a lot of highlights in the first game, in the season opener,” Wembanyama told ESPN. “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 on Dereck Lively going 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, behind LeBron James (2.85 billion), Wembanyama has produced plenty of stunning viral moments, with more likely on deck starting Sunday when the San Antonio Spurs host their first playoff series since 2017 against the Portland 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.
Castle finds Wemby for smooth-looking reverse alley-oop
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 trailing Dwight Powell to 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.
Victor Wembanyama shows off with a nasty reverse dunk plus the foul down low in the third quarter.
We’re still in Dallas for one of Wembanyama’s favorite plays. In his first regular-season game since deep vein thrombosis prematurely ended his 2024-25 campaign, Wembanyama spoiled the debut of Mavericks rookie and No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg with a 40-point, 15-rebound performance.
With 2:47 left in the second quarter, Wembanyama caught a pass from rookie guard Dylan Harper. One quick pump fake lured P.J. Washington off his feet, giving Wembanyama room to drive baseline as Anthony Davis stepped over to help, but it was too late. The 22-year-old unleashed a ferocious 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 forward Keldon Johnson told ESPN. “I’m sorry, but that was crazy.”
Wembanyama and teammate Julian Champagnie stood at the scorer’s table at American Airlines Center talking after the play, admiring Wemby’s work.
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.
Victor Wembanyama improvises on his way to the basket to score for the Spurs.
Even after his 40-point season opener filled with highlights, Wembanyama surprised himself three games later versus Toronto.
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 defenders Scottie Barnes and Jakob Poeltl before 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 Curry scored 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.
Area 51 consists 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 past Draymond Green, Wembanyama made Moses Moody lunge 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.
As Markkanen flew past on the pump fake, Wembanyama put the ball on the floor. Two dribbles later, with Cody Williams, Brice Sensabaugh and Walter Clayton Jr. attempting to help inside, Wembanyama bent back the rim for the loudest dunk of the night, posterizing Kyle Filipowski, who was whistled for a foul with 8:49 remaining.
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 the other talents he accrued after spending his offseason at a Shaolin temple in Zhenzhou, China, meditating and participating in kung fu training.
When he was told that there are other people capable of kicking as high as the rim, Wembanyama shot back, “I can beat that. I’m confident.”
Victor Wembanyama drives to the basket and shows off some moves with a windmill dunk.
De’Aaron Fox drove to the middle of the floor and kicked it out to Barnes, who then swung the ball to Wembanyama at the 3-point arc. He took only one dribble, and the defenders in the lane immediately parted for him as he ripped a two-handed windmill dunk. Of course, Wembanyama is known for doing things his own way, so it’s no surprise that his windmill flowed clockwise instead of the typical counterclockwise motion.
Sacramento defenders DeMar DeRozan, Nique Clifford, Daeqwon Plowden, Malik Monk and fellow Frenchman Maxime Raynaud could only watch in disgust as Wembanyma rose for the slam.
Victor Wembanyama assertively rejects Tari Eason’s layup attempt for the Spurs.
Tari Eason’s mother, Teroya, has built quite a social media presence and pulls no punches, even with her son. In the second quarter of the Spurs’ lopsided victory over Houston, the Rockets forward advanced the ball in transition as Wembanyama drifted back to guard center Alperen Sengun.
With Champagnie guarding Eason, and Wembanyama still on Sengun, the Rockets’ forward drove on Champagnie. What Eason likely didn’t realize was that Wembanyama was baiting him at the rim to shoot it. Right after Eason slipped past Champagnie with an up-and-under move, Wembanyama stepped over at the last second and blocked the shot into the crowd.