Victor Wembanyama Adds 20 Pounds of Muscle: What It Means for Spurs Title Hopes

By Edcel Panganiban August 13, 2025 00:48

The San Antonio Spurs’ young phenom Victor Wembanyama has made a significant physical transformation, adding roughly 20 to 30 pounds of muscle since entering the NBA in 2023. This notable gain brings his weight to about 245 pounds, a big jump from the 210 pounds he weighed as a rookie and the 230-235 pounds he tipped the scales at during his first training camp with the Spurs. Wembanyama’s increased bulk comes with the promise of greater strength and durability, essential ingredients as the Spurs look to climb back to NBA title contention in the 2025-26 season.

Wembanyama, standing an imposing 7-foot-3, has always been a rare talent blessed with exceptional length, mobility, and skill for a big man. His unique ability to handle the ball, shoot from long range, and protect the rim has made him a nightmare matchup on both ends of the floor. However, questions about his slender frame persisted early in his career, with many analysts wondering if his body could withstand the physical toll of an NBA season.

Now, the Spurs’ star has carefully added muscle while maintaining his signature mobility and athleticism. “I gained probably like 30 pounds,” Wembanyama revealed during a recent appearance on Kevin Hart’s podcast, Cold as Balls. He explained that although he could theoretically add more weight, he consciously limits gains to avoid sacrificing his quickness and shooting ability. “Some of my athleticism, some of my mobility I don’t want to lose that,” he said. “It’s something that needs to be done really carefully, and I have a lot of eyes and a lot of minds thinking about me in this instance.” This approach highlights the balance Wembanyama and the Spurs are trying to strike between physical development and preserving his unique style of play.

The weight gain is not just about aesthetics. It has real implications for his performance on the court and the Spurs’ championship aspirations. A stronger, more muscular Wembanyama can endure the rigors of an 82-game season and playoffs with less risk of injury or fatigue. It enhances his ability to battle in the paint against some of the league’s most physical bigs, while still allowing him to run the floor and switch defensively on smaller players in today’s pace-and-space NBA.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich and the team’s training staff have tailored Wembanyama’s strength program to encourage "natural and organic" growth, avoiding excessive bulk that could hinder agility. Wembanyama’s agent has also dismissed the idea of needing to bulk up excessively, drawing comparisons between Victor and legendary big men like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who succeeded without carrying heavy muscle mass. This philosophy aims to keep Wembanyama’s body in an optimal state strong enough to compete physically at the highest level but lean enough to exploit his rare skill set.

Coming off a promising rookie season that earned him Rookie of the Year honors and a near Defensive Player of the Year finish, Wembanyama's improved physique could be the final piece for the Spurs to maximize their potential next season. His current stats averaging over 24 points, 11 rebounds, and nearly 4 blocks per game when healthy combined with enhanced durability and physicality, give San Antonio genuine hopes of making a deep playoff run.

In sum, Victor Wembanyama’s 20-30 pound muscle gain is more than just a number. It symbolizes his evolution from a gifted prospect to a seasoned star equipped to lead the Spurs back into contention. With his rare blend of size, skill, and now added strength, Wembanyama is primed to be the cornerstone of San Antonio’s quest for an NBA title in the near future.