Victor Wembanyama has already established himself as one of the most terrifying young talents in basketball, but the San Antonio Spurs superstar may have been handed something even more valuable than another offseason of development: motivation.

After coming agonisingly close to winning an NBA championship, Wembanyama now has a painful reminder of just how much work remains before San Antonio reaches the top of the league. And if his performances this summer are anything to go by, that disappointment could become a serious problem for every team standing in the Spurs’ way next season.

Rather than disappearing for the offseason, Wembanyama has returned to competitive basketball with France, giving himself very little time away from the game following the Spurs’ deep playoff run.

Ordinarily, such a demanding schedule could raise concerns. The NBA season is already a brutal physical test, and adding international competition immediately afterward leaves considerably less time for recovery and individual development.

But there is another way of looking at it.

Wembanyama is continuing to compete against elite opposition while carrying the frustration of an NBA Finals defeat with him.

That combination could be extremely dangerous.

The loss may have exposed another side of Wembanyama

Wembanyama finished last season with an enormous amount of praise already attached to his name. He finished third in the MVP voting and became the first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year in NBA history.

Yet even those achievements barely tell the full story of what he could eventually become.

The Finals defeat may have provided the 22-year-old with an even clearer understanding of what separates an outstanding individual season from becoming the player capable of carrying a franchise to a championship.

The physical demands of the postseason were particularly revealing.

Opposing teams repeatedly attempted to make Wembanyama work for every possession, using physicality and pressure to disrupt his rhythm. He managed to withstand much of it, but surviving that treatment is only part of the equation.

The next step is making opponents pay for trying it.

That is where Wembanyama could take another enormous leap.

Spurs star has several areas ready for another jump

There are already indications that Wembanyama is working on expanding his offensive arsenal.

One potential addition is a more reliable hook shot, something he has reportedly been developing as he looks to become more dangerous around the basket.

His work with Hall of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon could also prove significant.

Olajuwon’s understanding of footwork, positioning and post scoring could give Wembanyama additional tools to exploit smaller defenders and punish teams that attempt to challenge him physically.

And there is another factor that should concern the rest of the league: his continued physical development.

Wembanyama does not necessarily need to reinvent his entire offensive game this summer. Simply becoming stronger could dramatically alter how effectively he handles the punishment that comes with playing at the highest level.

A stronger Wembanyama could mean fewer possessions where defenders successfully knock him off his preferred spots and more opportunities for him to dictate games.

His offensive ceiling could become frightening

The most intriguing part is that Wembanyama still has obvious room to improve.

He can become more dangerous as a roller, attack closeouts more aggressively and potentially increase the volume and consistency of his three-point shooting.

If those elements begin clicking simultaneously, his offensive ceiling could move into another category altogether.

Combine that with what he already provides defensively and the picture becomes difficult for opposing teams.

Wembanyama is already capable of controlling games without needing to dominate the ball. His ability to protect the rim, alter shots and cover enormous amounts of ground defensively gives San Antonio a foundation few teams can match.

If his offensive game catches up with his defensive impact, the Spurs could suddenly have a player capable of taking over both ends of the floor for extended stretches.

The NBA may be about to see a different Wembanyama

There has always been an intensity to Wembanyama’s game.

But losing on the biggest stage can leave a completely different kind of hunger.

The Spurs now have a superstar who has experienced the NBA Finals, understands how close he was to reaching the ultimate prize and has spent the summer competing against elite international opposition.

That experience could prove invaluable.

San Antonio does not need Wembanyama to become something he is not. It simply needs him to continue developing the areas that are already beginning to separate him from virtually every other player in the league.

The scary part for the rest of the NBA is that he appears to be doing exactly that.

The Finals loss may have ended the Spurs’ championship dream last season.

But it could also have created the motivation behind Wembanyama’s biggest individual leap yet.

And if that happens, San Antonio may not have to wait long for another chance at the trophy.