Wembanyama: Taking a pay cut in extension to avoid hindering Spurs' championship hopes, being on the cover of NBA 2K27 is a dream come true

Just days after finalizing a record-breaking early contract extension, Wembanyama reflected on his three-year NBA career on July 23 Beijing time. Countless highlight moments, a string of personal accolades, and the recently concluded playoff journey all made his decision to re-sign an easy one. On and off the court, his influence continues to grow.

On July 11, the San Antonio Spurs officially announced that Wembanyama had agreed to a five-year, $252 million early contract extension, which will take effect starting the 2027-28 season, with the first-year salary occupying 25% of the salary cap. Notably, Wembanyama was eligible to sign a designated veteran supermax contract worth 30% of the cap.

In an exclusive interview with The Athletic, Wembanyama discussed how this new deal helps the Spurs maintain a long-term championship window. Over the entire contract period, he voluntarily saved the team approximately $50 million in salary cap space. He stated that this cap relief allows the team more flexibility—whether through trades or free agent signings—to expand and strengthen the rotation.

Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper are still on their rookie contracts, and with future salary increases looming, the long-term salary cap planning is crucial.

The Athletic columnist John Hollinger analyzed: By accepting the 25% max, Wembanyama allows the Spurs to use the non-taxpayer mid-level exception in the 2027 offseason while staying under the first apron. If he had signed the 30% supermax, the Spurs would have had to trade away rotation players to achieve the same.

"We have a solid roster—we just finished a very good regular season and a surprising playoff run. But what's more valuable and exciting is the team's potential," said Wembanyama during an interview related to his announcement as the cover athlete for NBA 2K27. "The reality of today's NBA is that many teams have championship potential but are eventually held back by salary issues. I don't want us to fall into the same trap."

Wembanyama has been selected to two NBA All-Star Games, won the 2024 Rookie of the Year, and last season became the first player in league history to unanimously win Defensive Player of the Year. The 7-foot-4 versatile big man averaged a career-high 25 points and 11.5 rebounds per game last season, led the league with 3.1 blocks per game, and guided the team to his first NBA Finals appearance. He was named to the All-NBA First Team and finished third in MVP voting behind only Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Thunder and Nikola Jokić of the Nuggets.

Despite collecting these accolades, Wembanyama holds himself to extremely high standards, and these achievements were already within his expectations.

The 22-year-old player, who built an impressive resume in the French professional leagues early on, has now matured his game and risen to the ranks of the NBA's elite. He has attracted a large fanbase, but his aggressive play in the playoffs—receiving multiple flagrant fouls and ejections—has also led some fans to view him as a villain on the court.

Being on the cover of NBA 2K27 is a major milestone for him, but like other honors, he had anticipated it.

"NBA 2K is a court that never closes—its doors are always open. It's a great way to study the game and improve your basketball IQ.Becoming the face of this game that ignites basketball passion and appearing on a cover where countless legendary stars have made history is truly a dream come true for me.Like every achievement in my career, I wish it had come sooner," he said. "Everything has happened quickly, but I'm far from satisfied—I want to progress even faster. Being on the game cover is undoubtedly a good thing, an important milestone, and a goal accomplished."

Wembanyama has an 8-foot wingspan. Whether on the real court or in the virtual world, he is like a "game cheat code": possessing guard-like dribbling and shooting, and the ability to block three-point attempts. After every game, his confidence grows.

As his performances become more stunning, external discussions about him have also increased.

"I can truly feel the attention from everyone—whether it's fan interactions, all kinds of voices, or even the criticism that's everywhere. Butthese opinions don't weigh on me mentally; I just focus on playing my career well. The media talks about me the most. However, this is part of the path to fame, and overall it's a good thing."

This top-tier basketball simulation game sells consistently well year after year. Being the cover star allows more basketball fans—and even gamers who rarely watch the sport—to get to know Wembanyama.

The previous installment, NBA 2K26, featured Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the cover star and was the best-selling sports game last year, ranking second in overall video game sales. Wembanyama understands that this crossover of basketball culture and pop entertainment will further elevate his profile.

Wembanyama joins a star-studded list of NBA 2K cover athletes: Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, and Luka Dončić have all graced the cover. Growing up in France, he often played the game with his brother and uncle, and he clearly remembers when NBA 2K14 first added European league teams.

"I understand the cultural significance of this," Wembanyama admitted. "Sometimes it's hard for me to realize that I'm taking up an increasingly important place in basketball and continuously influencing the professional game."