Teaming Up with Wemby? Could Giannis Antetokounmpo's Next Chapter Begin in San Antonio?

The Milwaukee Bucks are out. Again.

For the third straight year, the Bucks were bounced from the first round of the NBA Playoffs—each time in gentlemen’s sweep fashion, losing 1-4, never once looking like true title contenders. Since hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy in 2021, Milwaukee has won just one playoff series. Injuries have certainly played their part, but the trend is undeniable. This isn’t a team with a contending trajectory anymore. And now, all eyes turn to the franchise’s cornerstone: Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Shortly after the Bucks’ elimination at the hands of the Indiana Pacers, reports emerged that the front office would meet with Giannis to "discuss the future." While some within the organization downplayed the meeting as an annual routine, many around the league view it for what it might actually be: the beginning of the end. A parting of ways. And if it is, few would blame Giannis for choosing to move on.

He’s given Milwaukee everything. Twelve seasons of blood, sweat, and loyalty. Multiple MVP campaigns. An unforgettable championship run. And in this year’s playoffs, he averaged 33 points, 15.4 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game—first on the team in scoring and rebounding, seventh in assists. He did all that on a hobbled roster, without enough help, without winning even a second playoff game.

For a player chasing all-time greatness, this summer is the logical moment to move. He wouldn’t be abandoning a team on the rise. He wouldn’t be quitting after one rough year. He’d be stepping away from a stagnant project with no obvious fix:

• A starting lineup entirely in their 30s.

• A payroll that ranks seventh in the league.

• No control of their own first-round picks until 2031.

• A fragile Damian Lillard battling Achilles issues.

• A coaching staff led by Doc Rivers, whose postseason track record needs no reminder.

This team is boxed in—financially, structurally, and competitively.

And so, as the NBA begins its annual rumor cycle, one franchise has emerged from the pack as a potentially surprising but compelling landing spot: the San Antonio Spurs.

Yes, the same Spurs who just finished another rebuilding season. But also the Spurs with Victor Wembanyama—the most tantalizing prospect the league has seen since LeBron James. According to reporting from ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, San Antonio’s interest in Giannis “should be taken seriously.” Jake Fischer echoed that sentiment, noting the Spurs are actively exploring paths to pair Wemby with a second star, and Giannis is firmly on their radar.

It sounds ambitious. It sounds bold. But it might not be crazy.

San Antonio has the goods. The team possesses an arsenal of young talent—Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Jeremy Sochan, and Julian Champagnie—all of whom have flashed varying degrees of promise. They also have the firepower to make a serious offer without touching Wembanyama or Stephon Castle, their newly drafted backcourt gem.

And then there’s the draft capital: over the next seven years, the Spurs own eight first-round picks and 16 second-rounders. Crucially, they control two potential lottery selections in the loaded 2025 draft class. If they were to dangle one of those, plus Castle and a role player or two, the Bucks would have to listen.

But while the Spurs have the tools, questions remain.

For one, their financial puzzle isn’t quite complete. Matching salaries would be difficult unless San Antonio is willing to part with multiple contributors. Moving Vassell and Keldon in one deal might be necessary to make Giannis’ contract work under the cap, and that could hurt their short-term depth.

Then there's the Dejounte Murray situation. After trading him away to Atlanta, the Spurs re-acquired the guard at the trade deadline—only to watch him struggle with consistency. He’s now approaching a contract year, and whether he fits alongside Wemby—and possibly Giannis—is unclear.

There are also two bigger obstacles that aren't so easily measured: market size and coaching stability.

San Antonio, for all its championship heritage, is not a glamour market. Giannis has spent over a decade in the quiet city of Milwaukee; if he chooses to leave now, it’s likely because he’s ready for a bigger stage. After Luka Dončić was traded to the Lakers (a hypothetical floated by Giannis himself as something he’d like to see for European players in big cities), the Greek Freak might be eyeing Los Angeles or New York himself. That gives the Clippers, Knicks, and even the Rockets more cachet than the Spurs.

Complicating matters further is the retirement of Gregg Popovich from coaching duties. While Pop remains with the franchise as president of basketball operations, he has handed the clipboard to long-time assistant Mitch Johnson. That transition is meaningful. Popovich was not only a strategic mastermind but also a magnet for talent. His presence lent legitimacy to the franchise. Whether Johnson can fill those shoes—especially in the eyes of a superstar like Giannis—remains to be seen.

And yet, there’s one undeniable truth working in San Antonio’s favor: Victor Wembanyama is a cheat code.

No other team can offer Giannis the chance to team up with a 7-foot-4 unicorn who can protect the rim, shoot threes, and stretch the floor like a guard. No other team can offer the potential of an inside-out defensive wall like Wemby-Giannis. Their combined wingspan would be a coach’s fantasy. Offensively, their interior passing and pick-and-roll potential would force even elite defenses into uncomfortable decisions.

If Giannis wants to win more rings—and win them fast—joining Wemby on a rookie-scale contract might be his best chance. The window is open. San Antonio has two more years before Wemby’s max extension kicks in. That’s two years of financial flexibility, two years to construct a title contender while their centerpiece is still on a bargain deal.

It’s now or never.

In the end, the decision will be Giannis’ alone. The Bucks may attempt to retool one last time, but the runway is short. Their flexibility is nonexistent. If they want to avoid losing him for nothing, they may have to entertain a trade—and the Spurs might just make the most sense.

If it happens, the league’s balance of power could shift overnight. A small-market franchise, armed with a generational rookie and a two-time MVP, would suddenly have the league’s most terrifying frontcourt. San Antonio, long dormant since the Duncan-Parker-Ginóbili era, could rise again.

From overlooked to overpowered. From rebuilding to reborn.

The idea of Giannis and Wemby sharing the floor may feel like a fantasy, but in today’s NBA, where stars align quickly and windows open briefly, it’s not just possible—it might be inevitable.

Commentary:
There are moments in NBA history when a single move changes everything. Giannis Antetokounmpo teaming up with Victor Wembanyama would be one of them. It’s the kind of basketball alchemy that front offices dream about—a blend of size, skill, humility, and sheer will to dominate. The Spurs have waited patiently since their dynasty ended. With the right mix of aggression and timing, they might not need to wait much longer.