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"We're like spoiled kids" - Victor Wembanyama issues stern reality check to young Spurs core
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- "We're like spoiled kids" - Victor Wembanyama issues stern reality check to young Spurs core
The big screen at the Frost Bank Center read 6:31 remaining in the third quarter when Dylan Harper buried a triple, capping off a massive 14-point lead for the San Antonio Spurs in front of an absolutely electric home crowd.
At that exact moment, nobody in the building could have predicted that Mike Brown's squad would close out the remainder of the contest on a blistering 54-30 run. It shocked everyone in attendance as the New York Knicks stole Game 1, mirroring their ECF Game 1 comeback against the Cleveland Cavaliers , where they erased a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit.
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Now, the Spurs have their backs firmly against the wall heading into a pivotal Game 2. If the Knicks happen to take this one too, it's hard to imagine them coughing up a golden opportunity back in front of a volatile, raucous home crowd at Madison Square Garden, and Victor Wembanyama is well aware of the stakes.
"We're like spoiled kids. We're playing against teams, the best example being New York, who are experienced, who understand how lucky they are to be in the Finals, and who know it's not guaranteed to happen again," Wemby said . "We're in the Finals in just our second or third season, and we don't even realize it — we don't appreciate how lucky we are."
Jun 3, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) shoots the ball against New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (23) in the second half during game one of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
The Spurs' youth holds't stood in the way of success
Wemby's words make perfect sense when we look at how contrastingly these two rosters were constructed. For starters, the Spurs feature six players who logged heavy playoff minutes and were directly drafted by the team. On the flip side, the Knicks boast six key players acquired via trades and free agency.
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Furthermore, New York is the more experienced team, having knocked on the door of the Larry O'Brien Trophy for the past three seasons. They built their success brick by brick: first with an exit in the Eastern Conference semifinals, then a loss in the Eastern Conference finals, before finally returning to the NBA Finals this year after a 27-year drought.
Meanwhile, San Antonio is the youngest team in the league, averaging just 25.06 years of age. Just last year, they finished with a meager 34-48 record. This season, they exploded for 62 wins, punched their ticket back to the NBA Finals for the first time in nine years, and even dominated the reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder by winning eight of their 12 matchups during this entire season, which includes regular season alongside the playoffs.
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Yet, as they've proven time and again this season, their youth hasn't stood in the way of success. They showed their grit when they fell into 2-1 and 3-2 series deficits against OKC, only to battle back and win a grueling Game 7.
As for Wemby, he has repeatedly challenged the notion that he and the Spurs need to wait their turn in the NBA.
"I agree to be patient, but just to some extent. I think being impatient can be a virtue at times because all those greats, they have been impatient," the reigning Defensive Player of the Year explained .
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"If you're impatient 10 times, maybe nine times you're just going to be patient. But maybe that one time, it's going to make you do something that you were not supposed to do, make you play over your level, make you overachieve," he continued. "And I think that's the difference-maker between good and great."
Their youth can sometimes be a double-edged sword
Throughout this playoff run, Mitch Johnson's squad has shown exactly that: they play without fear of failure because they've never actually experienced it on a stage this grand. Instead of letting it paralyze them, they use it as pure fuel.
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Of course, they are learning on the fly. Wembanyama's comments make it clear he recognizes that their youth can sometimes be a double-edged sword, especially now that they find themselves in an uncomfortable position.
But as the big man noted, these high-pressure situations always bring the absolute best out of him and his teammates. It's an adversity that is definitely building character for their future, even if they are fully aware of just how much weight the present moment carries.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jun 5, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
