Generational doesn’t begin to define how transformative Victor Wembanyama has looked as a young player in the NBA.
He began the season with a fire in his eyes, firmly placing himself in the way-too-early chase for MVP. But some less-productive outings, a calf injury, and consistently dominant performances of guys like Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have since quieted his case for end-of-season awards.
But the Xenomorphs don’t go away after the first movie though, do they?
Wembanyama has returned to the San Antonio Spurs lineup with a vengeance and is focused on one thing and one thing only: winning. For the first time in his young career, the French phenom has the chance to taste glory, to hoist a trophy and declare to the rest of the league that the future is now.
The only thing that stands in his way is the New York Knicks — a team that embodies the unrequited love of winning more than any other in the NBA. A team that, for all its history and swank and prestige, hasn’t won anything since 1973. A team and fanbase that want it more than any other.
There will be a palpable hunger in the air when these two sides tip off in Las Vegas (Sportsnet ONE, 8:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. PT), one that can’t be satiated by the myriad of buffets on the Strip. Hardware is finally within reach for Wembanyama and for the Knicks, and it’s hard to draw up a better showdown than the player who could shape the future of the league and the team trying to stop being stuck in the past.
While Wembanyama is the star of the show, the Spurs as a whole have taken a leap this season, propelling them to an 18-7 record and fifth in the crowded Western Conference.
In the 12 games without their star centre, the not-to-be-taken-lightly cast of De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, Harrison Barnes and Keldon Johnson, among others, finished with a 9-3 record, more than keeping their head above water.
But when they needed him most, Wembanyama returned. The 21-year-old helped the Spurs hand the seemingly immortal Oklahoma City Thunder their second loss of the season, finishing with 22 points, nine rebounds and two blocks with a +21 rating in 20 minutes off the bench, proving the undeniable deciding factor in a two-point win in the NBA Cup semis.
His ability to ward off attackers by his presence alone was on full display, as OKC scored only 44 points in the paint — well below their season average of 52.2 a night. He dominated opposing big Chet Holmgren, holding the seven-footer to three-of-eight from the field and forcing an uncharacteristically inefficient night from Jalen Williams, who shot five-for-16.
The Spurs have been great without Wemby in the lineup, but with him back — even off the bench — they’ve proven themselves as a legitimate contender this season.
More so than in past years, the Knicks look like the real deal. Under former head coach Tom Thibodeau, they relied heavily on their starting five, wearing down oft-injured players like Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns before the playoffs rolled around.
While they’re still playing some hefty minutes, the Knicks have found solid ancillary scoring options in Miles McBride, Jordan Clarkson and Landry Shamet, and new coach Mike Brown has been much more willing to experiment.
However, this team still wins or loses on the back of Brunson, who willed them to a 132-120 win over the Orlando Magic in the NBA Cup semis with a 40-point, eight-assist performance, and a 35-point outing against the Toronto Raptors in the quarterfinals.
While his stats haven’t differed much year over year, Brunson has opted to take more three-pointers at 7.4 a game, which has prevented him from taking as much contact and wearing himself down. Overall, he’s looked to be in better shape for every game he’s suited up for, and when he’s at the peak of his power, there aren’t many guards more capable of getting a bucket.
Spurs: How does the assortment of guards attack Brunson?
While the duo of Mikal Bridges and Anunoby is as fearsome a pairing as it gets on the wing defensively, the Knicks have a glaring weakness in Brunson. Though the Spurs don’t run much isolation or pick-and-roll, forcing the switch onto Brunson and attacking the defender with their assortment of talented guards — Fox, Castle and Dylan Harper — could be the focus of their attack, with the Knicks’ big duo of Mitchell Robinson and Towns set to be glued to Wembanyama.
Knicks: Can Towns force Wembanyama out of the paint?
The Knicks have been one of the best three-point shooting teams in the NBA this season, hitting 15.1 a game on 37.8 per cent. And while it’s been an all-around effort, with five different Knicks shooting at least five triples a game, Towns’ ability as the best stretch-five in the league will be key in opening up the lane against Wembanyama. It’s no simple task, as the Frenchman is great in recovery because of his length, but any time not spent patrolling the paint is a plus for New York.
Likely to be tasked with guarding Brunson for most of the night, Castle has a tall task ahead of him. The second-year guard commits the most fouls per game on the Spurs at 3.7, and against a guy as shifty as the Knicks captain, he’ll need to be extra wary of his hands. Then, on the other end, he’s probably staring down a matchup with Anunoby or Bridges, meaning those 18.4 points per game will be much tougher to come by. If he’s rendered invisible or gets tired out, much of how the Spurs run their offence will be cast aside.
Bridges has quietly been the second-best player on the Knicks this season, erasing doubt about his hefty price tag and uninspiring first season in orange and blue. The Swiss Army Knife wing is averaging 16.4 points and 4.2 assists a night while displaying the all-world defence that made him such a hot commodity with Phoenix and Brooklyn. He’s also back to shooting 40.7 per cent from range, and against a less intimidating Spurs wing defence, his number could get called often.
