Victor Wembanyama turned heads this postseason, helping power the San Antonio Spurs all the way to the NBA Finals at just 22 years old.
He racked up 26 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 3.6 blocks per game across the series. However, the New York Knicks’ physical defense and poise in crunch time exposed exactly where his game needs to grow next.
Why Kevin Garnett Wants Victor Wembanyama to Improve His Physical Game
In the 2026 NBA Finals, New York rallied from double-digit deficits in all four wins (4-1), flipping San Antonio’s early control into late heartbreak. They punished San Antonio’s mistakes and forced the Spurs to execute under real championship pressure.
That’s exactly why 15-time All-Star Kevin Garnett wants to step in and help the big man tighten up his game.
“One thing I want to speak on is Wemby’s development. If I’m him, I’m working on core strength,” KG said on the new episode of “Ticket & the Truth.”
“I’m probably one of the strongest people you could ever run up on, and I look how I look, but when it came down to setting up on that block and then pitching and getting it off down there, yeah, I was the best at that,” Garnett continued.
“So I would love to work with big fella, but this generation has a preference on how they want to work out, and I have to respect that.”
Garnett is one of the greatest frontcourt players the game has ever seen. He spent years anchoring the Minnesota Timberwolves before joining the Boston Celtics.
By the time his career wrapped up, Garnett averaged 17.8 points, 10 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 1.3 steals per game.
KG won the championship in 2008, teaming up with fellow All-Stars Paul Pierce and Ray Allen to get it done. He earned his spot in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame back in 2020.
Few players are better equipped than KG to mentor Wemby through this next stage.
Like Wembanyama, Garnett entered the league as a skinny kid himself before transforming into one of the most physical, aggressive forces basketball has seen. He understands the exact transformation Wembanyama now needs to make.
However, Garnett isn’t the only legend who feels Wemby needs to improve his physical core.
Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal also believes Wembanyama needs to keep adding strength if he wants to survive the physical grind that comes with being a true dominant big man.
“I say this with respect to Wemby. As good as he is, he’s going to need to get stronger,” Shaq said after the Spurs lost Game 5. “Because when you become a dominant big man, people are going to force.”
O’Neal added that he had no idea what Wembanyama planned for his summer. But he wants the weight room to become a top priority for the Spurs star if he wants to chase a championship down the road.
Now, the focus shifts to Wembanyama himself. At just 22 years old, he remains several years away from his physical prime. He’s already added 30 pounds since entering the league, proving he takes offseason development seriously.
His ceiling still feels limitless, and if he links up with a mentor like Garnett, fans could soon see an even more physically dominant version of Wemby.
