Bismack Biyombo Is Back, But Does It Even Matter for the 2025-26 Spurs?

Well, hold the phone, folks. In a move that absolutely nobody saw coming (or was particularly waiting for), the San Antonio Spurs have decided to run it back with Bismack Biyombo. Yes, you read that right. The veteran center, fresh off a thrilling stint where he averaged a staggering 5.1 points, has inked a one-year deal to return to the Alamo City. While the front office pops the lukewarm champagne, the rest of us are left scratching our heads.

Are we supposed to be excited? Is this the missing piece to the puzzle? Let’s be real: this feels less like a strategic masterstroke and more like finding a slightly used, reliable minivan at the back of the dealership lot. It’ll get you there, but nobody’s turning their head to watch you drive by.

Biyombo: The Predictable Veteran Presence

Let’s break down what this signing actually means. The Spurs, in their infinite wisdom, decided that what Victor Wembanyama and Luke Kornet really needed was… more Bismack Biyombo. The 14-year veteran is returning for his 15th season, a testament to his sheer ability just to be there. He’s the human equivalent of a participation trophy—always on a roster, rarely making waves.

Last season, Biyombo graced the court in 28 games for the Spurs, even starting 26 of them. He put up numbers that would make a role player blush: 5.1 points and 5.6 rebounds. Sure, he led the team in blocks nine times, which is nice, I guess. It’s like being the tallest person at a garden gnome convention. Congratulations, you’re fulfilling your primary job description. Now, he’s set to come off the bench, providing what team officials will no doubt call “veteran leadership” and “a steadying presence.” Translation: he’s a warm body who knows the plays and won’t cause a scene. Thrilling stuff.

Will This Move the Needle for San Antonio?

Let’s be brutally honest: no. This signing is about as impactful as a gentle breeze on a skyscraper. Biyombo is not the player who’s going to elevate the Spurs from the lottery to playoff contention. He’s a backup center, a guy you plug in for 15-20 minutes a night to give your starters a breather and maybe grab a few rebounds.

His career averages tell the whole story: 5.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks over nearly 900 games. He is the definition of consistency, but it’s the kind of consistency that puts you to sleep. He’s played for seven different teams, a journeyman’s journey if there ever was one. Teams sign him because he’s a known quantity. He’s safe. He’s reliable. He’s also profoundly unexciting.

The Spurs are in a delicate rebuilding phase centered around the once-in-a-generation talent of Wembanyama. Every roster spot, every dollar spent, should be geared toward maximizing Wemby’s development and surrounding him with pieces that complement his game. Does Biyombo do that? Marginally, at best. He can eat up minutes and provide a bit of rim protection, but he offers zero offensive threat and doesn’t space the floor. In an era where versatile, shooting bigs are king, Biyombo is a relic.

The Real Story: A Roster Filler, Nothing More

The press release from the Spurs was predictably bland, announcing the re-signing as if it were a major coup. “Per team policy, terms of the contract were not announced,” it read, as if they were protecting state secrets. Let’s speculate: it’s a veteran minimum deal. There’s no bidding war for a 30-something center with Biyombo’s stat line.

So why bring him back? Familiarity. The coaching staff knows him. The players know him. He’s a low-risk, low-reward signing that fills a roster spot without causing any disruption. It’s the safe play, the boring play. For a franchise that once built a dynasty on bold moves and finding hidden gems, this feels disappointingly pedestrian. This isn’t finding Tony Parker in the late first round; this is re-signing the guy who was already there because it was easy. The Spurs are essentially saying, “He’s fine, I guess.” And for a team trying to build a new empire, “fine” is just another word for “forgettable.”