Victor Wembanyama just had his first major letdown of his stellar early career

15 shots. That's all Victor Wembanyama took in a Game 5 in which the winner usually goes on to take the series 82% of the time, according to NBC's broadcast last night. That was the same number of attempts he took in Game 3, and the Spurs lost that game, too. Heavy legs could be to blame for what we just witnessed, but if Wemby doesn't push through, he'll be dealing with a heavy heart all offseason.

That doesn't excuse the poor decision-making and execution from the rest of the team, including the coaching staff. But nobody has more power in a moment like this than the superstar. Game 4 gave San Antonio a clear blueprint for beating OKC, and they went away from it entirely. That's a failure across the board.

Wembanyama must take control of the game

The Spurs like to play fast, but fast doesn't mean reckless, and it shouldn't come at the expense of smart basketball. There are too many times when the guards or wings won't slow down to allow Wembanyama a chance to get into position to take advantage of a mismatch. It's hard enough to score in this series. There should be an emphasis on seeking out easier opportunities.

Sometimes, that's as simple as attacking Jared McCain when he's on the floor. The ex-76er is 6'3" and 195 pounds. There's no reason why he should be coasting on defense. That allows him to save most of his energy for his offensive pops. His shots have killed the Spurs when he gets going, and he's gotten hot way too many times already.

Still, the scariest player for opponents is the same guy who energizes his team when he's rolling: Wembanyama. He should be demanding the ball and asking his guys to slow down. Some of that is on the coach, too, but Vic is the one on the court. He's vocal on defense, but he needs to transfer some of that outspokenness to the offensive end.

And it needs to be in the paint. The Alien earned his nickname for a reason. His skills are wide-ranging, so he can do everything. That doesn't mean he should do everything right now. He still has some sharpening to do with his outside game, but he's still a monster when he forces the action in the middle. He didn't force anything last night, only taking one attempt in the first nine minutes of the game.

It was great to see Julian Champagnie come out of his funk and knock down a few shots, but eight attempts for him with five for De'Aaron Fox on a bum ankle and none for Wembanyama with four minutes left to go in the first quarter isn't a recipe for success against Oklahoma City. Not having to deal with Vic in the paint is a huge win for the Thunder all in itself.

Wemby will either realize this right now and correct it in Game 6, or the Spurs will be heading home, concluding their 2025-26 season.

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