Wembanyama misses – Victor Wembanyama won Defensive Player of the Year, finished third for MVP, and made first-team All-NBA in his third season. Yet the ultimate moment slipped away again as the New York Knicks secured their first NBA title in 53 years, winning Game 5 of the Fina
SAN ANTONIO — Victor Wembanyama had to watch the visiting team become champions, again.
The seven-foot-four French star’s NBA rise is no longer a question of potential. This season he was unanimously named Defensive Player of the Year. finished third in the Most Valuable Player balloting. and earned first-team All-NBA for the first of what could be many times if his plan stays on track.
But the title moment he wanted has now gone missing for the second time in three years. In 2024, he tearfully watched the U.S. celebrate Olympic gold at the Paris Olympics. Saturday night brought a different kind of heartbreak: the New York Knicks celebrated their first championship in 53 years by winning Game 5 of the NBA Finals in San Antonio.
In the Finals, his production was undeniable even as it fell short of the finish line. Wembanyama averaged 26 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 3.6 blocks per game. “They were good, just not good enough,” the story of the series said on repeat.
His series will also be remembered for a few pivotal mistakes that opponents can’t afford to ignore. In New York’s Game 2 win. a turnover he committed led to Jalen Brunson’s go-ahead free throw. and in that same game Wembanyama missed a jump shot to win at the buzzer. In Game 4. the one that ended with the Spurs wasting a 29-point lead and losing by one. Wembanyama missed a pair of crucial free throws with 1:47 left.
It’s only Year 3 for Wembanyama. There is no shame in being behind the timing of a championship while the rest of the league is still catching up to what he does. The patience some teams never have is the one he still gets to earn.
His career has also drawn the kind of comparisons that come with chasing the same prize. It took Michael Jordan seven seasons to win his first championship. LeBron James needed nine years. Jerry West needed 12 years for his one and only title. John Stockton and Karl Malone never got one. Charles Barkley, Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony didn’t either.
Knicks legend Larry Johnson didn’t hide his respect during the series when he was asked about Wembanyama. “He’s definitely the future of this league, man,” Johnson said. “He’s a heck of a ballplayer.”
Even across the season, his uniqueness has shown up in numbers that don’t come around often. There have been four seasons in NBA history where a player had 150 blocks, 150 assists, and 100 3-pointers. Chet Holmgren did it for Oklahoma City in 2023-24. and the other three instances are all from Wembanyama. who has hit those totals in each of his first three seasons.
On Saturday, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver offered a similar mix of awe and belief. “I think for a lot of people, this team seems to be ahead of schedule,” Silver said on NBA TV. “I don’t think they feel that way. I’m amazed at Victor. Not just his play on the floor, but he’s such a curious young man. He’s a pleasure to talk to. He’s very worldly. I mean, he’s got amazing interests off the floor. He’s really dedicated to his craft and he’s got such a bright future ahead of him.”.
The story lands with a tough contrast: Wembanyama’s era is fully underway, yet the ring still isn’t there. Year 3 delivered elite recognition and a Finals run that will be remembered in both brilliance and the exact moments where the margins turned cruel.
Victor Wembanyama Defensive Player of the Year NBA Finals New York Knicks San Antonio Spurs Jalen Brunson Game 5 Game 4 NBA title