Why Victor Wembanyama dismissed Thunder’s ‘motivation’ to win

The Oklahoma City Thunder looked a lot as a team on a mission in a 119-98 victory over San Antonio Spurs. That Victor Vembanyamahowever, it was not about revenge

“I don’t think so,” replied the Spurs superstar when asked if the defending champions looked extra motivated.

“I don’t think their motivation tonight was any higher than the second and third games, for example,” Wemby continued, noting their contests on December 23 and 25.

The The silver and black famously defeated the team with easily the best NBA record in each of the first three meetings this season.

“I think they believed in what they were doing, which they’ve been doing for a few minutes,” San Antonio’s generational talent continued. “They have every reason to be, and that’s a team that’s been deep in the playoffs, as deep as it gets. So 40 games is nothing for them. They just keep working.”

Vembanyama scored 17 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in 28 minutes, his most since suffering a hyperextended left knee on New Year’s Eve.

Victor Vembanyama shares his thoughts on the physical nature of the Thunder, the environment

Oklahoma City was significantly more aggressive with Wembyespecially in the third period when they built a 40-24 lead.

“It was a little much. Not exactly like a big screen or a hard foul, but different things than that,” the 7-foot-7 center said of OKC’s physicality.

Vembanjama’s shooting line was not bad. He hit seven of 15 shots from the field. But Thunder pressed and worked to prevent him from reaching his placesholding him to just one three-point attempt.

Wemby with FLOP OF THE YEAR 🔥 pic.twitter.com/zR3FPvStmJ

— NBACentel (@TheNBACentel) January 14, 2026

The Thunder players were not the only French phenomenon second team in the West went against Oklahoma City fans provided a raucous home court advantage, booing Wemby every time he touched the ball. No stranger to wild game environments due to his days in Europe, the 22-year-old was funny, if not honest, with his response.

It is much more difficult because the players are much better.

Vembanjama struggles defensively in OKC

Runner-up for the 2023-2020 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Vembanyama recorded a block- 500th of his young career– vs. Thunder. For the season, he’s getting 2.7 sacks per game, well below the 3.8 he averaged last season when he wasn’t eligible for Defense POI because he didn’t play in the minimum 65 games mandated by the league.

“It’s been harder to block shots lately,” the Spurs starting center admitted. “I’ve had less opportunities, but our defensive rating is still pretty good for the most part and better than in the past when I blocked four shots a game.”

Several of his block attempts in the 21-point loss were called goaltending. That is the reality he understands.

“I think it can go either way. More than a few times in my career, our staff has reviewed goals that have been disallowed,” Vembanyama said. “So it proves that sometimes there are better reflexes, but (against the Thunder) I’m not so sure. Maybe it was the goalies.”

Whether it’s blocked shots, or in general, the top pick of the 2023 NBA draft and his teammates now the answers need to be found before taking on Oklahoma City for the final time on Feb. 4 in the Alamo City. Although that it might not be the last time they face each other the rest of the way.