Victor Wembanyama may no longer be the NBA’s lovable prodigy. Following the San Antonio Spurs’ NBA Finals loss to the New York Knicks, criticism of the French superstar has only intensified — some terming him a “villain”.
Others have felt the 22-year-old is being unfairly targeted. However, Detroit Pistons legend and the Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas doesn’t see it that way.
Isiah Thomas Says Victor Wembanyama Is Being Critiqued Fairly After NBA Finals Loss
During an appearance on “Fearless” with host Jason Whitlock, Thomas talked about whether Wembanyama had been unfairly turned into a villain following the Spurs’ Finals defeat.
“Victor Wembanyama. He’s been made into a villain through this NBA Finals series. Do you think we’re treating him fairly?” Whitlock asked Thomas.
The Hall of Famer rejected that notion, saying that the discussions critical of the French superstar have been totally fair.
“I think he’s had his ups and downs, and I do think he’s been treated and critiqued fairly,” Thomas said. “There’s been a lot of great things said about him, and there’s been some not-so-great things. But I think it’s been pretty much balanced.”
Thomas pointed out that Wembanyama has already accomplished things that few players in NBA history have managed at such a young age.
“He is one of the greatest players our league has ever seen already,” Thomas said. “At a very young age, he’s got his team in the NBA Finals and competing for a championship. Very rarely does that happen in our league.”
When Whitlock pushed back on Thomas’ description of Wembanyama as “one of the greatest players” ever, the Hall of Famer clarified that he was specifically referring to what the Spurs star has accomplished at 22.
Thomas acknowledged that Wembanyama does not yet have the longevity or resume to be discussed alongside the all-time greats overall, but argued that very few players have led a team to the NBA Finals this early in their careers.
“I have to put some age brackets around it,” Thomas explained. “At 22 years old, there’s only a handful of players who have come into this league and led their teams to the NBA Finals.”
The Pistons legend then placed Wembanyama in the company of “Magic [Johnson], Kareem [Abdul Jabbar], LeBron [James]”. “There’s only a handful we talk about, even when we go way back,” Thomas added.
However, Thomas doesn’t believe those achievements place Wembanyama above criticism. “He’s also made some mistakes,” Thomas said. “You have to call out the mistakes also.”
During the NBA Finals, the Spurs star’s shove on Jalen Brunson, physical plays involving OG Anunoby and Jose Alvarado, and several other controversial moments — all contributed to the “villain” perception. That narrative was only amplified when Wembanyama left the floor after Game 5 without taking part in the customary handshake with the Knicks players.
His confidence in post game media interactions has sometimes been interpreted as arrogance, though at times the criticism may stem from a language barrier.
Just days ago, Wembanyama signed off from his postgame NBA Finals press conference by telling reporters, “Appreciate y’all. See you… never.” His decision made waves for all the wrong reasons, as many blasted his behavior after a loss.
