Have the Thunder solved Victor Wembanyama?

All season long we have seen just how important Victor Wembanyama has been to the Spurs. This playoff run has only served to emphasize it.

Wembanyama’s size, skill and versatility are making an impact against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder. He averaged 30.3 PPG and 13.3 RPG through the first four games of the series. The only other players in NBA history to average 30+ PPG and 10+RPG through their first four conference finals games: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Hakeem Olajuwon. Elite company.

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The thing about the playoffs is every series changes, things shift, teams work to adjust. In Game 5, Wembanyama shot 4 for 15 from the field. That is the first time he shot worse than 46% against OKC this season (he’s shot 50% or better vs. OKC in 8 of their 10 matchups).

The conference finals are a sprint and the Thunder are now just 48 minutes from returning to the NBA Finals. With everything on the line, can Wemby, who curiously refused to speak to the media after Game 5, get back to impacting the game on both ends to save the Spurs’ season? Or have the Thunder finally solved the one who has bothered them all season?

How OKC is slowing Wemby on offense

One thing that is crystal clear this deep in the series is how important it is for Wembanyama to establish himself on the offensive end of the floor with consistency. Aggression feels like the buzzword to bring to the table, but assertiveness may be more fitting in this scenario. He has to play in a way that forces OKC to feel his presence and react to what he is doing.

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In these playoffs we have seen the Spurs rely on their defensive base. They utilize stops to establish their guards and flow on offense, then work Wemby in. The issue is, as the series goes on, they also have to establish Wemby to maintain that balance. In those moments when he is not as assertive, an aggressive and active Thunder defense has been able to dig its heels into the ground more.

This is a battleground between each team. Being able to move Wembanyama around the board has been a strength for San Antonio. The versatility in his skill set is one thing, but San…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/have-the-thunder-solved-victor-wembanyama-151539555.html

Author : Steve Jones

Publish date : 2026-05-28 15:15:00

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