Victor Wembanyama Takes Accountability After OKC Takes 2-1 Series Lead

OKC were able to neutralize Victor Wembanyama once again and have taken a 2-1 lead in the series.

Victor Wembanyama Takes Accountability After OKC Takes 2-1 Series Lead

Victor Wembanyama (Image credits - Firstsportz)

In Short
  • Victor Wembanyama takes responsibility for the Spurs' recent playoff losses against the Thunder.
  • The Spurs now trail the series 2-1 after losing Game 3 with a score of 123-108.
  • Wembanyama emphasizes the need for a more aggressive approach in upcoming games to help the team succeed.

Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs have now lost their home-court advantage in the Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. After an impressive win in Game 1 on the road, the Spurs have lost the next two games in the series.

After a blistering start in Game 3, where they took a 15-0 lead in the opening minutes of the game, the Thunder found a way back into the game and had a seven-point lead at halftime. The Spurs were playing catch-up throughout the second half and ultimately suffered a 123-108 defeat at the Frost Bank Center on Friday night.

Following the loss, a disappointed Wembanyama shouldered the blame and emphasized that he needs to be better.

I feel like I have trouble making my teammates better right now. I should do better. My shooting splits aren’t terrible. I need to be more of a team player.

Victor Wembanyama in his post-match press conference

After a dominant performance in Game 1, the defending champions have done a good job of controlling Victor Wembanyama in the next two games. The Spurs center has broken a few records already in his first-ever playoffs.

There is no doubt that Wembanyama’s ceiling is unimaginable. In just his third season in the NBA, he has cemented himself as the best two-way player in the league and was named the first-ever unanimous Defensive Player of the Year.

After a subpar performance by his standards in Game 2, the French star scored 26 points in Game 3 but had just four rebounds. He was not aggressive enough, as he had just 15 field-goal attempts.

If the Spurs have any chance of going through, they will need a much more aggressive Wembanyama moving ahead. The pressure will be high in Game 4, or else the Spurs will be at risk of going down 3-1 in the series.

Victor Wembanyama is ready to see what Spurs are ‘made of’ after Game 3

Victor Wembanyama has already shown that he can lead the Spurs to multiple championships in the years to come. At just 22, he led the Spurs to a second-place finish in the Western Conference standings and took them to their first postseason in seven years.

However, despite the Spurs’ impressive regular season, many believed that their lack of playoff experience could be their downfall this year. As they find themselves 2-1 down in the series, Wembanyama is eager to see what his team is made of.

It’s my first playoffs. It’s the first playoffs for many of us. Of course, there was going to be hard trials. It’s to be expected. But now, we’re going to see what we’re made of.

Victor Wembanyama in his post-match press conference

If there is any team that could hurt the Thunder this season, it is the Spurs. The Spurs are the only team so far to win a game against the defending champions in the playoffs this year.

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Victor Wembanyama is going to be a problem for the next 15 years

The Spurs hit the jackpot when they selected the French talent with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. They picked an anomaly who can lead the franchise for years to come. The league has never seen a player who is 7’5″ and can move like a guard before.

Victor Wembanyama manhandled OKC
Victor Wembanyama manhandling OKC (Image via SportsCenter/X)

Senior NBA writer Sam Amick reported that an anonymous Western Conference executive isn’t looking forward to the next 15 years because of Wembanyama.

He’s a problem from inside the halfcourt, and there’s just no one like that. At least Shaq was human in the sense that you needed three centers to bang with him. Maybe one was skilled, and the other two could hold him up while the other guys get rest. But there’s no archetype like (Wembanyama) — no player ever. It’s a problem, and it’s going to be a problem for 15 years.

Sam Amick on NBA Base

The series is still far from over. The Spurs will need everything they can get from their star player if they have any chance of making it to the NBA Finals.

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