Mitch Johnson explains Victor Wembanyama’s bold strategy
The The San Antonio Spurs advanced to the finals of the NBA Cup with a 111:109 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday and head coach Mitch Johnson a bold decision sit down Victor Vembanyama for the entire first quarter at the end of the paid dividend.
“As for the minutes limit, Mitch Johnson said he knew he had 20 of Wembey’s minutes available, and decided to use them in the equivalent of a three-quarter game, starting in the second quarter. It worked out pretty well,” Mike Finger of the San Antonio Express-News reported on the Bluesky.
The game is flagged Vembanjama is playing for the first time since suffering from a calf strain earlier this season. The 21-year-old made an immediate impact, finishing the night with 22 points, nine rebounds, two blocks and two assists in 21 minutes.
The Spurs trailed 31-20 at the end of the first quarter, but outscored the Thunder in each of the three remaining frames. Despite the minute limit, Vembaniama’s the presence was evident.
“He wanted to play,” Spurs point guard De’Aaron Fox told The Athletic’s Josh Robbins and Lou Murray. “Then coming back to a game like this, in a game of this magnitude, against a team like that, I think that’s probably the toughest first game you can have of anybody in this league.”
“But he rose to the occasion, and I don’t think anybody in the locker room or probably here … thought he wouldn’t. He was there, he did what he does. He impacted the game from the moment he stepped on the floor, both offensively and defensively, and we felt that, and that’s ultimately why we came out on top tonight.”
The Spurs are now 18-7 on the season. On Tuesday, they will face the New York Knicks in the NBA Cup finals.
2025-12-14 16:18:00
