How Spurs’ Victor Wembaniama gave Thunder a dose of their own medicine

ByNBAUSA



In a 24-1 run that tied the NBA record for the best 25-game start to a season, the Oklahoma City Thunder not only outscored opponents by 17 points per contest, but also rested their starters through many of them in the fourth quarter.

Against San Antonio Spurs in the semi-finals of the NBA Cuphowever, OKC couldn’t handle less than half the basketball since Victor Vembanyama.

Returning from a calf strain that had sidelined him since November 14, Wemby played just 21 minutes but still set the tone in San Antonio’s 111-109 win.

“My thoughts before the game were that in a game like this you have to make things happen, regardless of the conditions, and this is just a small detail,” Spurs’ generational talent revealed.

“I can do just fine with three quarters. I didn’t even have to ask myself this question.”

Although he saw action in the second, third and fourth periods, Vembanyama didn’t need three full quarters to turn things around in Oklahoma City. He entered the game with the Spurs down 11 in a game they would trail by 16. They were down just three points at halftime.

“Looking back now, I think it was a good formula. It was a good system to work like this and I just tried to get the most out of it,” he said.

Victor Vembanyama describes success within minutes

Although the vast majority of his 22 points came in the second half, Wemby changed the game upon entering with his defense and presence in the attack.

“This is my first quarter in I don’t know how many weeks, so if I wasn’t on purpose, I’d be really questioning myself. So I had to do it.”

In those 21 minutes of action, the league’s leading shot blocker hit a pair of shots and tied Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein’s game-high nine rebounds.

“My baseline is a lot better than it’s ever been in my life before,” Wembanyama said, admitting to fatigue after his first game back from a 12-game absence.

“Even the tired ones today were normal like before and it’s just my first game back so it’s only going to get better. Sure, it’s up and down all the time, but I don’t remember when, but at one point I was a little bit off,” admitted the 7-foot-4 center.

The 21-year-old, who many believe could rank among the game’s best ever, if not the best when all is said and done, has taken another step in building a young career that lends itself to that kind of miracle.

“Of course I did.” Vembanyama answered whether he was glad to be able to return from a month-long layoff against the juggernauts. “I feel very lucky because this is exactly the situation where I know I can trust my inner self to get into that zone, to do the right thing.”

“So it’s really not a concern on my end.”

Leave it to the rest of the league. Including Thunder.





2025-12-14 20:49:00

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