Victor Wembanyama Makes History as 2026 NBA All-Star Starter

SAN ANTONIO — The meteoric rise of Victor Wembanyama has reached another stratospheric milestone. On Monday, the NBA announced that the San Antonio Spurs’ 7-foot-4 phenom has been voted a Western Conference starter for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles.

This selection marks Wembanyama’s second consecutive All-Star appearance, but his first time being named to the starting five. At just 22 years old, he becomes the first French-born player in NBA history to be named an All-Star starter, surpassing the achievements of legends like Tony Parker and Rudy Gobert.

A Season of Dominance

Wembanyama’s selection is no surprise to those following the Spurs’ resurgence this season. He is currently putting up a historic stat line that blends elite scoring with generational rim protection:

• 24.5 PPG (Career High)

• 10.9 RPG

• 2.7 BPG (Leads the NBA)

“It’s just another step,” Wembanyama said following the announcement. “I was really happy to learn that I’m the first French guy to get that. I’m proud of this, but I have many more responsibilities with my team right now.”

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Defensive History: 500 Blocks and Counting

Just days before his All-Star nod, Wembanyama etched his name into the record books once again. During a January 13 matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder, he recorded his 500th career block.

Reaching the mark in only 143 games, Wembanyama is the fourth-fastest player to reach 500 blocks in NBA history, trailing only Manute Bol, David Robinson, and Mark Eaton. He is also the second-youngest player to reach the milestone, behind only Josh Smith.

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The “Team World” Anchor

The 2026 All-Star Game, hosted at the Intuit Dome, will feature a new “USA vs. World” round-robin format. Wembanyama will anchor a “Team World” lineup alongside fellow international superstars Nikola Jokić, Luka Dončić, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

True to his competitive nature, Wembanyama has already issued a challenge to his peers regarding the game’s intensity. “I want to push the great players of this sport to play as hard as I will,” he told reporters. “If they don’t play hard, I’ll do it without them.”

With the Spurs currently holding the 2nd seed in the Western Conference, Wembanyama’s individual accolades are finally aligning with team success, signaling a new era of Spurs basketball in San Antonio.