Wembanyama Faces Criticism After NBA Finals Loss, with Some Defending the 22-Year-Old

Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs had hoped to win their first NBA title after eliminating the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference finals, but they instead fell 4-1 to the New York Knicks in a major Finals upset. The season ended with the Spurs stunned and Wembanyama, the French star, left disappointed.

In Game 5, Wembanyama posted a strong double-double with 19 points on 7-of-19 shooting, 14 rebounds and five blocks. Even so, much of the criticism focused on his late-game fade, as he scored only three points in the fourth quarter and missed a crucial free throw with about two minutes left.

American media and fans blasted him, with one prominent line of attack saying, “Victor Wembanyama talks a lot of trash for someone who just disappears in all the important moments of the NBA Finals.” The backlash became a broader online and media talking point.

Some defenders urged perspective, including ClutchPoints, which wrote that he is only 22 and has already carried enormous expectations. They compared the reaction to early criticism of LeBron James, arguing that James also reached the Finals at 22 and was initially attacked after losing to the Spurs. “Don’t make the same mistake with Wemby,” they wrote, adding that despite the loss, “this league is his now” and predicting he will return stronger.