The $537 million NBA dream that can rebirth a league tarnished by tanking and losing LeBron James

Victor Wembanyama put on his ‘Hulk mad’ costume and destroyed Ant-Man’s Timberwolves.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander swept LeBron James out of the playoffs and pushed The King toward retirement.

getty

Dream playoff matchup for NBA fans

The best way to propel the NBA into a thrilling new era and erase the tarnish of tanking?

Place Wemby and SGA on center stage and ensure that the Western Conference finals is the rising San Antonio Spurs vs the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

Of course, Anthony Edwards still has a big say, even after his Timberwolves were crushed 126-97 by Wemby’s Spurs in Game 5 and fell into a 3-2 hole.

“I don’t see nobody in our locker room that’s too worried,” said Edwards, according to ESPN.

“There’s another basketball game. Come out, put your boots on and get ready to go to war.”

Ant-Man has spent years being compared to Michael Jordan.

If one of the top young talents in the game knocks off Wemby after being down 3-2 in the second round, more power to him.

But it’s easy to proclaim before Game 6 is even played that Spurs vs OKC is what the NBA really needs in 2026.

Wemby vs SGA would showcase league to world

Silver’s league has been hammered by bad publicity and scandal for years, with teams intentionally losing to move up the draft board and former Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups attached to a nationwide betting ring.

Wemby stands 7ft and 4in, hails from France, embraces his ‘Alien’ nickname and loves playing for a small-market team in San Antonio.

Getty

getty

Gilgeous-Alexander spent last season winning the regular season and Finals MVPs, then answered that breakthrough season by committing to small-market OKC via a four-year, $285 million contract extension and leading the Thunder to the NBA’s best record (64-18) this year.

Factor in that SGA is 27-years-old, Wemby won’t turn 23 until January and King James is one decision away from never playing in the NBA again … and The Association is screaming for this must-watch conference finals pairing.

“There was a lot that happened in the last 48 hours,” said Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson.

“I think how that young man (Wembanyama) came out tonight and played in a variety of ways in a variety of situations, not just in terms of his production, was extremely mature.”

Wembanyama is ready for next stage

One game after being ejected because of a hard elbow to the neck area of Minnesota’s Naz Reid, Wemby — who could command a $252m extension from the Spurs — channeled his inner fire and took over the hardwood.

He scored 27 points, grabbed 17 rebounds, dished out five assists and added three blocks, becoming the third-youngest player in NBA history to record that line in a playoff game.

NBA's Greatest

Greatest NBA players in the world right now – from Luka Doncic to Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama

Best players in NBA history to never win a championship – James Harden and Carmelo Anthony to Allen Iverson and Karl Malone

10 richest owners in the NBA – family empires, media moguls and investment gurus

Michael Jordan’s top 10 scoring games – counting down MJ’s most extraordinary totals

Only Magic Johnson (20) and Luka Doncic (21) topped Wembanyama, who’s the most promising young player in the league since James was deemed The Chosen One.

Ant-Man still has a shot to return to the conference finals for the third consecutive year.

But if the NBA is going to embrace its new era and reach a new generation of basketball fans across the globe, placing Wemby and SGA in the middle of the spotlight is a must.

This is the young, athletic, small-market based series that The Association needs.

This is what Wembanyama has been building toward ever San Antonio lucked out in the draft lottery.

The coolest Alien the NBA has ever seen just has to finish off Ant-Man, then get through a reigning MVP and world champion to reach The Finals.

getty