Victor Wembanyama got his first glimpse of the NBA Finals last season, but he wasn’t able to lead the San Antonio Spurs past the New York Knicks.
Four-time NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal is now arguing that Wembanyama’s failure to punish the Knicks in the post is what cost the Spurs the NBA title.
Shaquille O’Neal Argues That Victor Wembanyama’s Style of Play Cost the Spurs the NBA Title
Wembanyama put together a dominant run for the Spurs, leading them to the NBA Finals while averaging 23.8 points, 10.9 rebounds, 3.5 blocks, 2.7 assists, and 1.0 steals per game during the playoffs.
However, Wembanyama was ultimately overpowered by Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson when the Spurs faced the Knicks during the NBA Finals. Throughout the series, he attepted 6.6 3-pointers per game and shot just 27.3% from beyond the arc instead of fighting through contact and attempting to get to the rim.
O’Neal believes that Wembanyama’s propensity to shoot jumpers instead of physically asserting his dominance on the court is why the Spurs failed to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
“You have to want to not shoot jumpers and go in the post. You have to play to your advantages. If you are bigger and stronger than everyone, I am not shooting jump shots. I don’t care what era this is. This is exactly why [the] San Antonio Spurs lost the championship. You have a guy who is 7-foot 6-shooting jumpers,” O’Neal said on 97.5 The Fanatic on Monday.
Shaquille O’Neal (@SHAQ) On How LeBron’s Leadership Can Impact Embiid & The Rest Of The Team
“I played with LeBron. He is a fabulous leader. He is definitely going to lead by example. He will be there early. He will be in tremendous shape. Guys follow him; they see what he does,… pic.twitter.com/PgFyfeNkxk
— 97.5 The Fanatic (@975TheFanatic) July 27, 2026
O’Neal shared his take on Wembanyama when asked what impact LeBron James could have on Joel Embiid and the rest of the Philadelphia 76ers’ roster. He called for Embiid to punish opponents near the paint and play like a traditional big man.
“I played with LeBron. He is a fabulous leader. He is definitely going to lead by example. He will be there early. He will be in tremendous shape. Guys follow him; they see what he does, and they should be able to develop new habits. You have to want to be the best big man in the league,” O’Neal said.
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With the 76ers and Spurs emerging as two of the top contenders in the NBA entering the 2026-27 season, it is possible that they could face off in the Finals next season. A potential series between the two teams could well hinge on Wembanyama vs. Embiid.
