San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama had the series of his life against the Oklahoma City Thunder, but his biggest challenge yet awaits him in the 2026 NBA Finals. And Magic Johnson thinks the defensive style that won the last series will fall apart in the Finals. 

During that Western Conference Finals series, the team relied on Wembanyama as a defensive anchor. He even won the Earvin “Magic” Johnson Trophy as the series MVP. But now, Johnson has concerns about the strategy against the Knicks for Wemby, which he posted on X on June 1, 2026.

“Victor Wembanyama dominated the paint on defense during the Series against OKC while playing in a zone, but that won’t work against the Knicks given the 3-point shooting ability of Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby.”

Johnson made this comment because of the specific defensive system the Spurs just used. They ran a hybrid zone against Oklahoma City. This setup allowed their star to roam free and protect the paint. 

The Thunder lacked floor spacing from their big men. Isaiah Hartenstein showed almost no threat from the perimeter. He only took one notable three-point shot in the entire series. Chet Holmgren also struggled, shooting just 27.3% from three during the matchup. 

Now, the Knicks will present a very different problem. Johnson pointed out that New York has frontcourt players who can shoot from deep, such as Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby.

Towns has been shooting 36.8% from three during the regular season and then 48.9% in the playoffs. Anunoby hit 38.6% in the regular season and 48.3% in the postseason. 

If Wembanyama stays near the basket, Towns and Anunoby will look for three. But if he steps out of the paint, the defense will be too thin. 

The defensive side is only one part of the story, though. The entire series setup looks different from what Wemby just faced in the last round.

Why New York is a New Test for The Spurs and Victor Wembanyama

San Antonio is heading into its first Finals since 2014. Meanwhile, New York is making its first appearance since 1999. This series is a rematch of that 1999 Finals battle. 

San Antonio just finished a seven-game battle with Oklahoma City. Wemby posted 22 points and 7 rebounds in that deciding Game 7. Now, recovery and film study are the top priorities before Game 1 tips off on June 3. 

The differences between Oklahoma City and New York are huge.

The Thunder built their 64-win season on speed and the scoring of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. They were the defending champions and held the league's top defensive rating. 

However, their main weakness was a lack of frontcourt spacing and inconsistent outside shooting from their big men.

New York, on the other hand, depends on physical strength, veteran experience, and an elite offense. 

Brunson offers clutch scoring from the guard spot. Towns serves as a stretch big, while Anunoby plays two-way basketball on the wing. This combination gives them different ways to attack the Spurs' defense.

Do you agree with Magic Johnson's take, or will Wemby find a way to lock down the perimeter? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Utsav Sinha

Edited by

Surjo Ray