He can score 26 points and still walk off the floor frustrated. That’s exactly what happened to Victor Wembanyama after Game 3 of the Western Conference Finalswith his San Antonio Spurs falling at home to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
But what stood out most after the game wasn’t the loss itself – it was the brutally honest way Wemby looked inward.
I feel like I’m struggling to make my teammates better right now. I need to do more for the team
Victor Wembanyama
It’s a statement few would expect from a player in just his third NBA season, especially one who already led the Spurs back to the playoffs after a six-year absence and all the way to the Conference Finals for the first time since 2017.
The game initially looked like it was trending in San Antonio’s favor. The Spurs opened with an impressive 15-0 run that brought the home crowd to life. Oklahoma City, however, stayed composed and shifted momentum in the second quarter, winning it 32-20.
From that point on, the Texas team found itself chasing the game, unable to fully regain control.
That’s why Wembanyama’s comments carry even more weight. The French big man understands that against a defense focused almost entirely on him, finding ways to involve his teammates more effectively will be critical moving forward in the series.
Another major talking point from the night involved the free throws awarded to Shai Gilgeous-Alexanderwho knocked down 12 of them. Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson didn’t hesitate to put the blame on his own team:
You’re asking about Shai’s free throws? I think at least half of them came from our mistakes. He got us out of position defensively and took advantage of it. Those 12 free throws had a big impact, and I can already think of several situations where we lacked discipline
Mitch Johnson
With OKC now leading the series 2-1the Spurs can’t afford another misstep. Game 4 will be played on May 24 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio – once again on their home floor – and another loss would put them in a 3-1 hole, historically one of the toughest deficits to overcome.
These are my first playoffs, and they’re the first playoffs for a lot of us… but now we’ll see what we’re made of
Victor Wembanyama
Wembanyama knows what needs to happen. And if there’s one trait that has defined him since arriving in the NBA, it’s self-awareness. Now comes the next step: turning words into assists.
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