The One Thing Victor Wembanyama STILL Can't Do That Cost The Spurs The NBA Finals

Alright, fam, listen up. Victor Wembanyama's first NBA playoff run? Done. And man, it ended in heartbreak. This 22-year-old phenom, straight up, crushed it in his postseason debut, even missing like three games due to a concussion and an ejection for elbowing Naz Reid. He averaged 23.8 points, 10.9 boards, and 3.5 blocks over 22 playoff games, shooting 48.5% from the field and 34.2% from three. San Antonio outscored opponents by 8.9 points with him on the floor for 34.1 minutes per game. Three series wins, even taking down the defending champion Thunder in a seven-game battle. But then, the NBA Finals against the Knicks. Lost. Still, what a ride for a rookie, right? Michael Jordan took three seasons to get past the first round, LeBron James needed four years for his first Finals. Wemby's already way ahead, getting his team to the final round in his first try.

The Achilles Heel No One Can Ignore

But the lasting impression from these playoffs, for Wemby and for everyone, is that failure on the biggest stage. This 7-foot-4 star, as insanely good as he is, ain't a finished product. The Spurs' five-game Finals loss to the Knicks exposed his biggest flaws. Top of the list? Dude needs a go-to move on offense. It was never more obvious than against that Knicks defense. His length and talent mean scoring isn't an issue over 48 minutes. But in the final seconds, with the score tight? NBA players need that habitual shot, made a million times. Wemby struggles to create his own shot in crunch time, gumming up the Spurs' offense in all five Finals games. They kept putting the ball in De'Aaron Fox's hands because Wemby is most effective when a teammate sets him up. When the Knicks were all over him, Fox had to make something happen, and he usually failed. Remember Game 2? San Antonio didn't trust Wemby to get to his spot against Mitchell Robinson. Mitch Johnson drew up a pick-and-pop, leaving Wemby with a tough deep two. He's good enough to make any shot, but to truly execute in the final seconds against a playoff defense, he needs that signature move. A sky hook, a floater, something to utilize his absurd length and touch. That's how he ensures his dominance doesn't fade in close games.

Running on Empty in the Fourth?

And then there was the other issue that plagued the Spurs in the Finals: Wemby ran out of gas in the fourth quarter. Endurance is a brutal challenge every young star faces in their first playoff runs, and it hit Wemby hard. This guy hadn't played star-level minutes for an extended stretch in his career, even in his best regular season in 2025-26, where he averaged fewer than 30 minutes per game. He was outrageously effective anyway. But in the playoffs, margins are razor thin. Teams have no choice but to lean on their stars heavily. Wemby averaged 34.1 minutes in the playoffs, a significant jump. That's a lot to ask for that kind of postseason grind.

So, what's next? Wemby has the talent of a generational player, but the Finals proved he's got real homework to do. If he wants to take that next leap and actually win a ring, he has to address these gaps. He's got the summer to figure out that go-to move and build up his stamina. The league is watching, and so are we!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.