Victor Wembanyama is leaving no stone unturned in his quest to lead the San Antonio Spurs to their first NBA championship since 2014.
After leading the Western Conference Finals in points, rebounds and blocks while helping eliminate the defending champs, the OKC Thunder, the 22-year-old has only strengthened the belief that he may already be the best player in the NBA, especially after he already cemented his defensive legacy by becoming the first-ever unanimous and youngest DPOY.
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However, as dominant as the Frenchman has been, Skip Bayless feels nothing more than a “spoiled child.”
Given that Victor has boycotted press conferences after losses and avoided accountability for overphysical plays, Skip claimed that the Spurs’ big man needs favorable media narratives to climb the hierarchy in the NBA.
“He’s been pampered all the way up,” Bayless said. “He’s still not sure what’s going on around him, and it’s all new to him. It’s all going fast, but the spoiled child could flare up in any moment.”
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Bayless reminds Wembanyama that Brunson is above him
Even though Wemby is leading his team in scoring during these NBA Finals, averaging 27.8 points and 3.3 blocks through the first four games, Bayless believes Jalen Brunson’s impact on winning has been greater.
Game 3 serves as an example. While Wemby exploded for 32 points, he needed Stephon Castle to drop 23 points, including a bail-out three-pointer with less than two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter to extend the team’s lead to seven points, to secure the Spurs’ 115-111 win.
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Meanwhile, Brunson has carried his team in big moments on his back. In Game 1, he scored a game-high 30 points, including 13 points in the fourth quarter alone — almost single-handedly outsourcing the entire Spurs team that had 19 in that frame.
Then, in Game 2, when Wemby’s costly turnover prevented San Antonio from having the last possession to win the game and also missed the game-winning shot, JB not only made the crucial steal but also knocked down the game-deciding free throw to give the Knicks a 105-104 lead.
This is why Bayless believed that Victor holding Jalen by his head and shoving him to the floor was a mere act of frustration. Put simply, Skip believes the French phenom gets rubbed the wrong way after witnessing that, despite the height difference, Brunson means more to his franchise and his city.
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“It’s like, ‘Get off me, little man.’ The little man is a foot and half shorter than you are, and he is the King of New York, and he is the heart and soul of that,” Bayless added. “They are not going to win without him.”
Game 4 speaks volumes
That being said, the numbers certainly support JB’s case as the best closers in the NBA. The biggest contrast, however, has been in the narratives both players are dealing with. While Wemby’s run in the Finals has been surrounded by discussion about his physicality and extra emotional play, Brunson is focusing almost entirely on execution and late-game shot-making.
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Game 4 was a prime example, as the Knicks’ 29-point comeback and second-half execution led by Brunson showed just how much more mature and ready he is for the big moment compared to Wembanyama. With Jalen one game away from winning the title at Victor’s hands, it’s safe to say he has a mental edge over the French phenom.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jun 11, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.