Victor Wembanyama described his mindset coming off the bench in San Antonio’s 111–109 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder as focused and confident. “I can do just all right with three quarters… I just try to make the most out of it,” he said after the NBA Cup semifinal at T-Mobile Arena.
Wembanyama embraced the challenge of entering a high-intensity game after missing 12 contests with a left calf injury. “I feel very lucky… I can trust my inner self, to get in that zone to just make the right thing,” he explained.
The Spurs overcame an early deficit to snap Oklahoma City’s 16-game winning streak, with Wembanyama contributing 22 points, nine rebounds, and a plus-21 rating in only 21 minutes. He emphasized the importance of teamwork and experience in reaching the next level. “We’re already a solid team… the difference with us and this team, they’ve had many reps recognizing what it takes to win,” he said.
Defensively, Wembanyama highlighted his second-quarter effort. “Because it’s my first quarter in a while, if I hadn’t been intentional, I would have been really asking myself questions,” he said, underscoring his focus on controlling the paint even without scoring.
He reflected on the significance of the environment and pressure. “This is not a typical regular season game… if we lose we’re out… it shows because it’s not against anybody that we won that game,” Wembanyama said, acknowledging the stakes of the NBA Cup semifinal.
Wembanyama also praised the Spurs’ backcourt for their ability to create opportunities. “It’s two very young guys that are already able to get downhill… it makes the whole defense shift their focus,” he said of Devin Vassell and Stephon Castle, noting how their play complemented his interior presence.
The 7-foot-4 center spoke about his confidence post-injury. “I’ve never really felt a lack of confidence… I know I’m taking care of my body like nobody else,” he said, emphasizing that his return bolstered both his physical readiness and mental assurance.
San Antonio now advances to face the New York Knicks in Tuesday’s NBA Cup final, with Wembanyama highlighting growth as the team’s next step. “We’re winning much more than we’re losing right now… we are where we want to be,” he concluded.
