San Antonio Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson pointed to Victor Wembanyama’s mindset after a dominant Game 6 performance helped extend the Western Conference finals, saying the 22-year-old star is learning how to embrace pressure rather than avoid it.
After San Antonio’s 118-91 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday night at Frost Bank Center, Johnson repeatedly returned to Wembanyama’s competitive approach while discussing how the Spurs responded to a disappointing Game 5 loss.
Wembanyama finished with 28 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks as San Antonio forced a decisive Game 7 in Oklahoma City on Saturday. The Spurs held the defending champions scoreless for roughly eight minutes in the third quarter during a game-changing 22-0 run.
Johnson said the biggest difference from Game 5 was Wembanyama’s energy and intent.
“I would say his overall activity and that probably from my perspective was just from his will and intent on leaving his imprints on the game,” Johnson said.
The Spurs star made his first two shots, both 3-pointers, and blocked a Shai Gilgeous-Alexander layup attempt in the opening minutes. He added 11 points, five rebounds, an assist and a block in the first quarter as San Antonio established control early.
Johnson also reflected on what he believes Wembanyama has learned during the postseason run.
“Just a desire to meet the moment,” Johnson said. “He’s not always perfect and we got to help him at times, obviously. He’s 22 years old, but his passion and desire for being right where he is and at the forefront of it all and to take the responsibility and the role and the burden of what he does.”
The coach added that Wembanyama’s growth has come from embracing responsibility without waiting for ideal circumstances.
“I think that’s maybe his biggest growth this year of not waiting for it to be perfect or necessarily to know what to do all the time, but attack the moment and have the right approach and live with the results,” Johnson said.
Johnson also praised rookie Dylan Harper, who scored 18 points on 6-for-9 shooting despite continuing to deal with an injury.
“When he switched on mentally and aggressive, he’s pretty damn good,” Johnson said. “He’s got all the talent in the world, makeup to do whatever he wants.”
The Spurs coach acknowledged the demands of the moment for Harper, calling attention to the physical and emotional strain of the series.
“He’s a 20-year-old kid in the conference finals playing against the defending champs,” Johnson said. “He’s not 100% healthy and he’s doing a hell of a job.”
Johnson highlighted rookie Carter Bryant’s defensive work as another key factor after San Antonio limited Gilgeous-Alexander to 15 points on 6-for-18 shooting.
“Carter has been as coachable as anybody,” Johnson said. “He has as good of raw instincts and when he plays free and allows his instincts to follow his athleticism and aggressiveness, good things happen.”
Now, the Spurs head into a winner-take-all Game 7 with a trip to the NBA Finals at stake against a Thunder team Johnson expects to respond.
“Tonight was do or die,” Johnson said. “We’ll be prepared… get ready to go into a hostile environment against the defending champs in the Western Conference Finals for a team that’s done it multiple times and knows exactly what it takes.”
