The San Antonio Spurs handed the Oklahoma City Thunder their first loss of the postseason behind a masterful performance from Victor Wembanyama. However, the reigning NBA champions were able to punch back and tie the series at one game apiece.
A lot of their success in Game 2 boiled down to an added focus on the physicality and defense, leading to a lot of anger all across social media. Now, NBA legend turned “Inside the NBA” host, Charles Barkley, did not believe the physicality was too extreme.
Charles Barkley Is Loving the Defense Against Victor Wembanyama
Putting up 41 points, 24 rebounds, and 3 blocks, including a sensational 27-foot 3-pointer to force the game into double overtime, Wembanyama announced his arrival to the NBA world at large in Game 1.
At the time, it seemed like the Thunder might not have any answers for him. However, right from tipoff in Game 2, they put Isaiah Hartenstein as the primary defender on him, and it worked wonders.
Wemby came down to earth, despite still finishing with an efficient 21 points, 17 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 blocks. However, social media was full of clips of Hartenstein being overly aggressive with the French-born superstar, with analysts and media members claiming he was being “mauled.”
Barkley, who came up in the NBA in the 1980s and 1990s, though, did not see anything wrong with the product on the court. On the latest episode of “Inside the NBA,” he had a bone to pick with the basketball world at large.
“I watched the whole game,” he confessed. “You people at home and TV talking about they were physical with Wemby. Man, y’all need to stop it.” In trademark Barkley fashion, he joked, “I’ve been kissed harder. Was he physical in putting a body on him?”
Charles Barkley calls out people who complained OKC was physical with Victor Wembanyama:
“You people at home and tv talkin about they were physical with Wemby, man y’all need to stop it. I’ve been kissed harder…. There was no excessive fouls. For you people thinking that’s… pic.twitter.com/jsBGXtZtMy
— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) May 21, 2026
Continuing on his stance, the former MVP added, “I love Hartenstein. But he just put a body on Wemby. It wasn’t overly aggressive. There were no excessive fouls. For you people thinking that’s physicality, y’all need to shut the hell up!”
On the one hand, the physicality of Hartenstein was hard to ignore. However, it is a tale that virtually every great NBA superstar has endured. Moreover, the physicality of the playoffs has always been a touch greater than the regular season.
As a result, while some more fouls could come Wemby’s way, the way Oklahoma City has defended the reigning Defensive Player of the Year might be the perfect antidote for him.
