Victor Wembanyama, a 22-year-old French basketball player, has just led the San Antonio Spurs to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014. On May 30, the Spurs defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 111-103 in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals. Wembanyama was named the Finals MVP after an outstanding performance throughout the series.
During the seven-game series, Wembanyama averaged 27.3 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game. At 7 feet 4 inches tall, he combines excellent shooting ability with strong defense. In Game 1 alone, he scored 41 points and grabbed 24 rebounds across two overtime periods. In the final Game 7, he contributed 22 points to secure the victory.
What makes this achievement even more remarkable is that the Spurs won only 34 games last season. Now, under first-year coach Mitch Johnson, the team has reached the championship round. Johnson previously worked under legendary coach Gregg Popovich, the winningest coach in NBA history.
The Spurs will face the New York Knicks in the Finals, beginning on June 3, 2026. Interestingly, these teams last met in the Finals in 1999, when San Antonio defeated New York. This will be the first time these franchises have faced each other for the championship in 27 years. The Knicks have not won a title since 1973.