Victor Wembanyama took the basketball world by storm this postseason. He helped carry the San Antonio Spurs to the NBA Finals at just 22 years old, but the New York Knicks’ physical coverage and late-game poise showed where his next leap may need to come.
Now, Shaquille O’Neal is offering a blunt message for the young star. The Hall of Fame center believes Wembanyama must keep building strength if he wants to handle the physical pressure that comes with being a dominant big man.
The Finals loss that shook San Antonio
The San Antonio Spurs fell to the New York Knicks 4-1 in the 2026 NBA Finals, ending a thrilling postseason run for the young French star. The Knicks rallied from double-digit deficits in all four of their wins, turning San Antonio’s early control into late heartbreak.
Wembanyama still averaged 26 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 3.6 blocks per game in the series. Those numbers were strong, but the Knicks repeatedly made him work for position, punished San Antonio’s mistakes, and forced the Spurs to execute under championship pressure.
Shaq drops the truth bomb
On ESPN’s Inside the NBA, Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal did not mince words after the Spurs’ Game 5 loss. He said, “I say this with respect to Wemby. As good as he is, he’s going to need to get stronger. Because when you become a dominant big man, people are going to force.” Shaq made clear this was coming from a place of respect and experience.
O’Neal then added that he did not know what Wembanyama planned to do that summer. But one thing was certain in his mind. The weight room had to be a major priority if the young star wanted to eventually win a championship.
The Knicks made it physical from Game 1
The Knicks won Game 1 by a score of 105-95, and their blueprint was clear from the very beginning. They pushed Wembanyama away from the basket, forced him into perimeter situations, and made him uncomfortable throughout. The Spurs shot just 11-for-43 from three-point range that night and finished with only 16 assists.
Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson were the two centers assigned to challenge Wembanyama physically. Both players used their size, strength, and positioning to prevent him from settling into any rhythm inside. The Knicks came in with a detailed game plan and executed it from the opening tip.
Wembanyama’s 3-point numbers told the story
Wembanyama shot 40% from three in the Western Conference Finals against Oklahoma City, earning the Magic Johnson Trophy as conference finals MVP for that dominant run. That efficiency made his Finals drop all the more striking and jarring for Spurs fans to watch. The same shooter looked completely different against a more physical opponent.
His three-point percentage fell to just 27.3% across the five-game series against the Knicks. In Game 5 alone, he made only 1 of 6 attempts from beyond the arc. When teams can push a player to the perimeter and make him uncomfortable, even elite shooters lose their rhythm fast.
Game 3 showed what he could be
In Game 3 at Madison Square Garden, Wembanyama erupted for 32 points on 11-of-18 shooting, with 22 of those points coming at the rim or from the free throw line. He played with aggression, attacked the basket, and helped the Spurs end the Knicks’ 13-game winning streak.
The Spurs scored 123.7 points per 100 possessions that night, their most efficient output since the conference semifinals. Wembanyama was dominant when he stopped settling and started attacking. It gave the world a preview of how dangerous he can become once he builds more strength and commits to the paint.
Fun fact: Wembanyama is only the second player in NBA history to record 150 blocks, 150 assists, and 100 three-pointers in a single season, and the only player ever to do it three seasons in a row.
Former Spurs big man piled on
Former NBA All-Star David West publicly called out Wembanyama after the Finals loss, pointing to an underdeveloped post game as a key flaw. West noted that despite Wembanyama being unstoppable going downhill and in lob situations, he struggled badly to post up his defender in the paint.
West’s point was direct and blunt. Towns and Robinson were able to match up with Wembanyama because their physicality and post defense held firm in one-on-one scenarios. Shaq’s message and West’s observation pointed to the same conclusion. The body has to get stronger for the skill set to reach its full potential.
The future is still incredibly bright
At just 22 years old, Wembanyama is still several seasons away from entering his physical prime, which is a thought that terrifies the rest of the NBA. He has already built himself up by 30 pounds since entering the league and has shown a clear commitment to his physical development each offseason. The ceiling on his career remains essentially unlimited.
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson praised Wembanyama’s growth and leadership throughout the season after the final buzzer sounded. The loss hurts now, but the foundation is real. Wembanyama himself called it “the biggest lesson of my life” and showed no signs of backing down from the challenge ahead.
Fun fact: Wembanyama has an 8-ft wingspan, the largest ever recorded for a player with his offensive skill set in NBA history.
TL;DR
- The San Antonio Spurs lost the 2026 NBA Finals to the New York Knicks 4-1.
- Shaq said on Inside the NBA that Wembanyama needs to get stronger to handle physical play from dominant big men.
- Knicks centers Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson pushed Wembanyama away from the paint throughout the series.
- Wembanyama’s three-point percentage dropped from 40% in the conference finals to just 29.6% in the Finals.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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