The San Antonio Spurs are heading to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014, and Victor Wembanyama made it clear after Saturday’s Game 7 win that the moment means far more than simply advancing to another series.
After a 111-103 road win over the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center, the Spurs star reflected on what it means to have a chance to compete for the Larry O’Brien Trophy, calling it “a childhood dream” and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“It’s a childhood dream and having a real shot at it,” Wembanyama said. “Having a chance, tangible chance at winning it, at realizing a dream, you know, it’s a chance. It’s a lifetime chance, you know.”
The Spurs eliminated the defending champions behind Wembanyama’s 22 points and seven rebounds, while Julian Champagnie added 20 points, including six made 3-pointers. Stephon Castle scored 16 points, De’Aaron Fox had 15, and San Antonio earned a Finals matchup against the New York Knicks beginning Wednesday night.
Wembanyama said the emotions after the final buzzer reflected years of work and a hunger to experience moments like this repeatedly.
“I’m most excited about feeling what I felt when that buzzer went off again and again and again and even more,” he said. “You work all these hours we put in. It’s for these type of emotions. I want to win so bad it’s like my life depends on it.”
The 22-year-old also revisited comments he made after France’s gold medal game in Paris, when he suggested opponents should worry about what was ahead in future seasons.
“Kind of, but I don’t worry really for them,” Wembanyama said. “I’m not worried. I’m worried about us winning, you know? That’s what I’m thinking about.”
San Antonio’s supporting cast delivered several pivotal moments in Game 7, particularly Champagnie’s perimeter shooting and Luke Kornet’s fourth-quarter block on Isaiah Hartenstein during a Thunder fast break. Oklahoma City had trimmed the margin to within striking distance before Kornet erased what could have been a momentum-changing basket.
“That was big. That was big,” Wembanyama said of the play. “There’s so many big-time plays, so many guys stepping up.”
He later called the sequence “the definition of a winning play.”
“It’s whoever wanted it more,” Wembanyama said. “I was so stoked. I was so proud of him. So happy.”
Wembanyama reserved some of his strongest praise for Champagnie, who scored 18 of his 20 points from beyond the arc and repeatedly answered Thunder runs.
“Julian’s amazing. He deserves everything that he gets,” Wembanyama said. “He’s the type of guy that makes you want to die for him on the court because he gives so much effort.”
The Spurs center also pointed to Champagnie’s path back into the league.
“He’s got such an amazing story,” Wembanyama said. “He got cut in the NBA a few years back. He’s had tough moments, but he keeps pushing and now he’s taking this team to the NBA Finals.”
Even with the Western Conference title secured, Wembanyama framed the accomplishment as only part of a larger vision.
“When you lay a brick like this every time you got a chance and you lay it perfectly fine, at the end of the day, you get a big castle, a beautiful house,” Wembanyama said. “This is just like the entry hall of our castle right now.”
