Victor Wembanyama has set the tone for players making sacrifices in San Antonio

Victor Wembanyama has set the tone for players making sacrifices in San Antonio originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

>Victor Wembanyama signed his contract extension with the San Antonio Spurs, worth $252 million over the next five years. While that is already a huge deal, he did opt out of the supermax, so he left around $51 million on the table.

>This was a sacrifice that could help the Spurs in the long run. As they are building a good squad, that $51 million could come in handy for the Spurs. Now, he has set the tone for the team moving forward.

Victor Wembanyama's pay cut has set the tone for the Spurs playersWhen the New York Knicks won the 2026 championship, one of the biggest reasons why was the loaded roster. It was a roster that would have been impossible to construct had Jalen Brunson taken his max contract.

>With the money that the Knicks saved from the move, they were able to afford to keep players like OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns on big contracts. Now, as the losing team in that NBA Finals series, the Spurs have done the same thing with Wembanyama.

>MORE: Carter Bryant was unsurprised by Victor Wembanyama taking the pay cut

>Apart from Wembanyama sacrificing money for the team, it seems other players are also making sacrifices. This includes Dylan Harper, who has made a case for himself to start more games, but it seems De'Aaron Fox will continue to be the starting point guard.

>"It’s part of why people familiar with Harper’s thinking, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe team dynamics, acknowledge that he can take on a sixth-man role next season," The Athletic's resident Spurs writer Jared Weiss, spoke about how Wembanyama's pay cut inspired Harper and the rest of the team.

>As the Spurs progress toward the long-term future, they will continue to be one of the strongest teams in the league. With the financial flexibility they have after Wembanyama's new deal, the Spurs could have an even stronger team moving forward.

More NBA news:The reason why LeBron James signing for the Spurs would be a smart move • >How a second-round pick for the Spurs has turned heads at the 2026 NBA Summer League • >The Spurs' new sharpshooter at Summer League with the fastest-ever release • >The Spurs might make a De'Aaron Fox decision that could upset the fans • >The Spurs' sixth man could get traded in the near future