The San Antonio Spurs dropped Game 1 of the NBA Finals to the New York Knicks, and all eyes are on Victor Wembanyama's energy levels. The rookie phenom finished with 26 points, but it took him 21 shots to get there—and he coughed up six turnovers. More alarming than the numbers was the way he looked doing it.
From the opening tip, Wembanyama seemed off. By midway through the first quarter, he was already bending over and grabbing his shorts. ESPN's Brian Windhorst noticed it immediately. “I felt Victor Wembanyama was low on energy from the first quarter,” Windhorst said. “I saw him grabbing his shorts, and I didn't think he was able to maintain a good energy flow for most of the game.”
Bill Simmons of The Ringer echoed those concerns. “Wemby looked tired. I don't know if he shot his wad in the first half or what happened, but I just don't know what the answer is.” The fatigue was especially visible in the second half, when the Knicks locked in and forced him into tough shots and careless turnovers.
Former NBA coach Doc Rivers pointed to another issue: time of possession. “How often did he hold the ball? It looked like way more than usual. And I think that played right into the Knicks' hands.” When Wembanyama holds the ball for long stretches, the defense can load up, and his efficiency plummets. On Wednesday, that formula worked perfectly for New York.
The concern isn't just about one game. It's about the marathon ahead. The Spurs need Wembanyama at full throttle if they want to survive a seven-game series against a deep Knicks squad. If his tank is empty in Game 1, what happens in Game 5 or Game 7? That question is already buzzing around the league.
Wembanyama, for his part, isn't panicking. After the loss, he told reporters, “I'm not worried in the slightest. I'm gonna figure it out. I was bad tonight.” That kind of confidence is typical for the 20-year-old, who has bounced back from rough games all season. But the NBA Finals are a different beast, and the margin for error is razor-thin.
Some have also pointed to Wembanyama's recent anthem gesture controversy as a possible distraction, though the player himself has dismissed any link. Others wonder if the pressure of the moment is getting to him. After all, this is his first Finals appearance, and the spotlight has never been brighter.
One thing is certain: the Spurs can't afford another low-energy performance from their franchise cornerstone. Game 2 is Friday night in San Antonio, and the expectations are simple—Wembanyama needs to be better. If he's not, the Knicks will take a commanding 2-0 lead, and the conversation will shift from concern to full-blown alarm.
For now, the Spurs are hoping that a couple of days of rest and film study will do the trick. Wembanyama has proven he can dominate when he's fresh. The question is whether his body can hold up for the grind of a Finals series. The answer starts Friday.
