The San Antonio Spurs lost the NBA Finals to the New York Knicks, putting a harsh spotlight on Victor Wembanyama's conditioning and late-game execution. On First Take, Stephen A. Smith defended the young star, pointing out that "the brother's averaging 28 and 10. 28 and 10 on f- on 43, 43 and a half percent shooting". However, co-host Molly Qerim countered that "Wemby has also struggled in the finals when it matters the most", wondering if there is any way "to give Wemby some sort of in-game rest" given his visible exhaustion.
The criticism got significantly sharper on other networks. On The Breakfast Club, Charlamagne Tha God went so far as to call Wembanyama "a dirty, overrated player", adding, "I don't see the dominance" after a highly hyped series. Bill Simmons agreed on The Bill Simmons Podcast that the narrative has completely flipped, asking whether "he can play more than 30 minutes in a playoff game without wearing down". On the same episode, Zach Lowe criticized late-game execution, questioning the decision to put the "unanimous defensive player of the year" in a double-team on Jalen Brunson 30 feet from the basket.
Others view this series as a necessary stepping stone for a 22-year-old who is still evolving. On The Ringer NBA Show, Howard Beck marvelled at the young star's raw talent, remarking that "the man could grab a cloud if he wanted to". Analysts are already mapping out his next steps; Rob Mahoney suggested he needs a "Dirk LaMarcus Aldridge style baseline" turnaround shot to unlock his half-court offense. Meanwhile, Doc Rivers pointed out that "physicality and the fatigue played a major factor" in his performance. On Pardon My Take, Henry Lockwood warned that this collapse "is gonna haunt him and them for more than people give it credit for", even as Pat McAfee floated a wild future on The Pat McAfee Show where LeBron James might team up with him to "pass the baton actually to the next generation".