The San Antonio Spurs' 2025-2026 season didn't quite go the way they wanted, largely thanks to the Knicks. Victor Wembanyama in particular seemed upset about it. Unless he can stop tripping over his own ego, 2026-2027 isn't going to look much better for the prospective face of the league.
Up until the 2026 NBA Finals, Wemby was arguably the most popular star in the NBA. His fantastic height combined with his impressive range of basketball skills propelled him to elite status rather quickly. On top of that, Wemby came across as a generally likable and interesting guy.
Fans definitely had his back as the Spurs progressed to the Western Conference Finals against OKC. Despite being the reigning champions, the Thunder's incessant and unnecessary flopping drew the ire of fans from across the league. Wemby and his crew were, without question, the heroes.
Opinions on Victor Wembanyama changed rapidly
The script flipped against the Knicks. Wemby's insistence that the Spurs were winning the title came across as treating New York like an afterthought. He also committed a large number of flagrant fouls, the vast majority of which were not called by officials or addressed by the league.
Suddenly, Wemby was no longer the fan favorite. He became the villain in the story of the 2026 finals. To be fair, this edition of the Knicks is arguably the most likeable team the NBA has had in years. Plus, seeing New York win their first title in 53 years was something nearly everyone wanted.
Wemby also earned ire from fans. His cheap shots, combined with his arrogant attitude throughout the finals, rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. Even when the Spurs were down three games to one, he was still acting like the Knicks were just a speed bump on his road to greatness.
The big question for the Spurs is Wemby's mindset
During the 2025 offseason, there were endless reports about what Wemby was doing to get ready. He spent two weeks training with Shaolin monks in central China. He worked out with Hakeem Olajuwon. He played chess. It was a well-publicized few months for the French big man.
This offseason has been a lot quieter, or at least less plastered all over the media. There's no way of knowing where Wemby's head is at right now, but he cannot go into 2026-2027 with the same level of arrogance if he wants a ring. He has to grow up, which is something he might not be ready to do.
Elite athletes like Wemby have to believe in themselves to be able to compete. They also have to operate with a certain level of humility and respect for their opponents. That balance is key. If Wemby hasn't found that yet, it's hard to see him leading the Spurs to the big win.
