After starting the 2026 Western Conference Finals like a house on fire, Victor Wembanyama has tapered off as the series nears its conclusion. With only 20 points on 4-for-15 shooting and a head-scratching six rebounds, many are wondering if the 7’4″ French phenom is finally feeling the crunch of the postseason.
With the Oklahoma City Thunder‘s frontcourt enforcer, Isaiah Hartenstein, and their phalanx of feisty wing defenders led by Alex Caruso making their presence felt to Wemby on every possession, fans and analysts believe that Wembanyama could be wearing down, both by the physicality and the mounting pressure of the postseason.
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However, Hall of Famer Chris Webber believes that fatigue should not be an excuse at this point in the season. With a ticket to the NBA Finals just two wins away, he asserted that the San Antonio Spurs superstar should buckle down and assess what he can do to remain impactful despite the defensive pressure on him.
Everyone is feeling the same way
A veteran of 80 postseason games, including the infamous 2002 West finals that the Sacramento Kings lost in controversial fashion to the Los Angeles Lakers, C-Webb knows what bodies feel like when the games extend to May and June.
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After enduring the long regular season and going through the playoff gauntlet that doesn’t give players enough time to recover, it’s no surprise that superstars now feel worn down.
But Webber stressed that it is part of the entire playoff experience.
“Everybody’s tired. Everybody gets tired. We used to have a saying: ‘What the baby’s going to do?’ I still don’t know the exact definition of it, but I know what it means: It means you better find a way,” the former “Fab Five” ace mentioned.
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“Everybody’s tired. Come on — LeBron James is tired. Can we let him off the hook? He’s been carrying that for what feels like 47 years. Everybody wants to beat him,” the 6’10” power forward from Detroit added. “So yeah, everybody’s tired. And Victor Wembanyama knows that too.”
Experience matters
Wemby has done well in his first playoff campaign. At the same time, his lack of postseason experience has shown at times, especially in Game 5, which the Spurs lost, 127-114. With Hartenstein keeping him away from his sweet spots and the Thunder’s guards quick to swarm every time he put the ball on the floor, Wemby couldn’t get anything going. Layups bounced off the rim. Midrange jumpers went awry. He also missed all five of his 3-point attempts.
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Webber relayed that when his shot isn’t falling, Wemby should leverage his gravity to get his teammates good looks at the basket—a skill the 22-year-old has yet to fully grasp.
“When you have the ball, two guys are always leaning toward you, and the whole defense is looking at you. That means you create the best cutting lanes. And because he’s so tall, there are four or five passing lanes available. Isiah Thomas talks about left, right, up, and down. Most big men have another passing angle because they can throw over defenders,”Webber stated.
“Well, Wemby can throw four times higher over defenders.”
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With the Spurs’ season on the line in Game 6, many are excited to find out what Wembanyama will bring to the table. Will he continue to settle for outside jumpers or use his massive size and length advantage to deal damage inside?
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on May 28, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.