Victor Wembanyama's Game 1 dig just tossed even more fuel on the Knicks' fire
· Yahoo Sports
Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals proved that the New York Knicks don't need any "added motivation" to light a fire under the homestretch of their stellar playoff run. The Knicks extended their unthinkable postseason winning streak to 12 games by opening the NBA Finals with a 105-95 road victory over the San Antonio Spurs. But while Jalen Brunson and company may not need any of the age-old bulletin board material, Victor Wembanyama still gave them some with a quick backhanded slight.
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Although Wemby may not have intentionally meant for his comment to land quite the way it did. While responding to a question about what he needs to do moving forward in the series following the Game 1 loss, the young star added three words to his response that immediately jumped out.
"It's almost not like I have anything to figure out. It's almost like I have to play normal, not even good," Wembanyama said with a laugh. "Just doing the right things is enough."
While Wembanyama cited the fact that when the Spurs are "just doing the right things [it] is enough," adding that he's not worried after the Game 1 loss.
Wemby's post-Game 1 comments show confidence, but the Spurs still face an uphill battle
Considering the Knicks are the type of team that consistently plays like a group with a chip on their shoulder, the Spurs have plenty to worry about heading into Game 2. Not only did they surrender home-court advantage, but when the series shifts to Madison Square Garden, stealing a win from the Knicks will be a tall task.
Wemby's comments highlight his confidence in himself and his teammates, but they're one more loss away from being squarely behind the 8-ball with a trip to face a Knicks fanbase starving for a title on the horizon. And while it's easy to understand the 22-year-old's overall mindset, he's far from correct about needing to play "not even good" to beat this Knicks team.
If Wembanyama truly does believe that, the Knicks, who are undeniably playing their best basketball of the season, will make sure he finds out that's not the case, because their foot isn't coming off the gas.
Wembanyama's Game 1 comments ignore one key aspect about the Knicks and Jalen Brunson
Although Wembanyama is correct that "playing normal" will help ensure the Knicks don't run away with this series, there are two sides to every story. Wemby shot just 6-21 (28.6%) from the field in Game 1 while knocking down 2-9 attempts (22.2%) from beyond the arc. He still finished the night with 26 points, highlighting how the NBA's most elite offensive players can still be impactful scoring, even if their shots aren't falling.
Unfortunately, the Spurs also have to realize that a star shooting a higher percentage, or playing more like we're used to seeing, also stands true for Jalen Brunson. The big difference here is that Brunson's off-night shooting in Game 1 was quickly overshadowed by a fourth quarter where he played exceptionally.
Wembanyama is unlikely to shoot under 30% from the field again in this series, but it's a safe bet that Brunson won't have another night where he finishes 12-31 (38.7%) from the field. The Knicks star was also 2-9 from 3-point range, but as mentioned above with Wemby, Brunson still found a way to score, finishing with 30 points.
Wemby shooting better is a must for the Spurs. However, as we saw on Wednesday night, Brunson's rare "off" night, when his shots weren't falling, was still enough to overcome multiple deficits and pick up a 10-point victory. That aspect alone should be a cause for concern for San Antonio.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Victor Wembanyama's Game 1 dig throws more fuel on the Knicks' fire