Wembanyama fulfils early prophecy as Spurs reach NBA Finals

The San Antonio Spurs have secured their place in the 2026 NBA Finals following a decisive Game 7 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night at the Paycom Center. The win, achieved in Victor Wembanyama’s third season, fulfils a prediction made by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski prior to the 2023 Draft that the centre could become the league’s best player by this stage of his career.

Wembanyama’s performance was defined by his ability to neutralise Thunder MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander through sustained defensive pressure. NBA.com tracking data reveals a significant shift in offensive dynamics, with Gilgeous-Alexander’s average shot attempts in the restricted area dropping from 5.4 during the regular season to approximately three across the first six games of the Western Conference Finals.

The Thunder’s MVP struggled to find efficiency outside the rim, shooting 32.1 per cent in the non-restricted paint, 38.3 per cent on mid-range shots, and 26.1 per cent from three-point range. The absence of secondary shot-creators Ajay Mitchell and Jalen Williams due to injury further compounded Oklahoma City’s difficulties, though Wembanyama’s teammates De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper also played through injuries.

This series victory continues a pattern of dominance by the Spurs over their Western Conference opponents. San Antonio won four of their five regular-season matchups against the Thunder and secured their first postseason meeting. The Spurs will now face the New York Knicks in the Finals, a team that defeated San Antonio twice during the regular season, including in the NBA Cup final.

While Wembanyama has reached this milestone ahead of schedule, development work continues. He spent last offseason refining his post-game with Hakeem Olajuwon. Despite the early success, the Spurs face a formidable challenge against the Knicks, who ended a 27-year championship drought to reach the final series.