The San Antonio Spurs now trail the Oklahoma City Thunder 3-2 in the Western Conference Finals after a 127-114 Game 5 loss. Victor Wembanyama's performance may haunt him for a long time.
In the biggest game of his career, Wembanyama recorded 20 points and six rebounds, shooting just 4-of-15 from the field. He reached the 20-point mark primarily by going 12-of-12 from the free-throw line.
The six rebounds are concerning for a player listed at 7-foot-4. His four field goals made highlight a significant weakness: his inability to consistently operate in the paint.
In Games 1 and 4, Wembanyama played closer to the basket. Those are the games the Spurs won. In Games 2, 3, and 5, he remained perimeter-oriented. Those are the games the Spurs lost.
A Skill Game That Limits His Potential
Wembanyama possesses a unique skill set for his size—a perimeter-based game unmatched by anyone his height. However, that very ability has clouded his offensive judgment about where his true advantage lies.
Great scorers establish specific spots and shots they demand, not accept. Consider Kevin Durant at the elbow, Luka Dončić hitting step-back threes, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander operating in the midrange, or Michael Jordan fading away.
Wembanyama lacks those ironclad terms and spots. When an offensive possession doesn't unfold ideally, he cannot consistently bend the game to his will.
Physical Challenge in the Paint
Defensively, Wembanyama remains arguably the best player on earth. Offensively, he's a jack of all trades but master of none. The paint must become his place of mastery.
Thunder coach Mark Daigneault assigned Isaiah Hartenstein—a 250-pounder—to guard him. Through the first 19 minutes of Game 5, Wembanyama had just two buckets and one rebound. A 7-foot-4 player being pushed out of the game is unacceptable.
Wembanyama often catches at the elbow and attempts to attack downhill, but he lacks the strength to hold his line to the basket. His pick-and-roll game separates him as a roller, yet he doesn't execute it consistently enough.
He frequently sets picks and pops to the three-point line, serving as a floor spacer rather than establishing deep positioning where he can dominate.
What Wembanyama Must Develop
Understanding the need to operate from deeper positioning is only half the equation. The other half requires developing the physical force to actually do it.
His summer priority is clear: establish an offensive office—the spots and shots he goes to when it's time to work—rather than depending on how the defense happens to align.