Victor Wembanyama still managed 26 points and 12 rebounds in his first Finals appearance, but the more concerning stat for San Antonio was his six turnovers. New York made him uncomfortable early, turning several of his catches into rushed possessions.
Speaking after the Spurs’ 105-95 loss in Game 1, Wembanyama didn’t shy away from criticism. He was direct about his own performance and said San Antonio had let the game get away from them.
Looking at the box score, it’s hard to argue. He finished 6-for-21 from the floor and 2-for-9 from three-point range, though a strong showing at the line (12-for-13) helped his numbers look a bit better.
Much of New York’s defensive success came from how they defended him before he even got going. Josh Hart, who picked up four steals and was central to their game plan, along with the Knicks guards, kept swiping at the ball every time he put it on the floor, while Karl-Anthony Towns used his size to slow him down.
Wembanyama ended up with six of San Antonio’s 13 turnovers. The Knicks took advantage, turning those mistakes into 19 points while also racking up eight steals.
Wembanyama’s free throws point the other way
Pulling Wembanyama away from contact entirely would cost the Spurs their most reliable scoring route. His 13 free-throw attempts produced 12 points and accounted for most of San Antonio’s foul-line offence.
The fix is about where he catches the ball, not how often he attacks. Deeper catches, quicker slips and fewer late-clock isolations would keep the second defender from digging at the ball.
San Antonio built a 14-point cushion in the third quarter, only for New York to chip away and pull even by the end of the period. In the fourth, the Spurs’ offence dried up completely.
They scored just 19 points and watched as the Knicks finished on an 11-0 run to take control late. The ball movement and spacing that had worked earlier disappeared when it mattered most.
The answer isn’t less Wembanyama; it’s better support around him. He needs cleaner entries and more reliable options when pressure comes. The shooting let them down, too — outside Champagnie’s five threes, the rest of San Antonio combined to hit just 6-of-33 from beyond the arc.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
