Victor Wembanyama found himself in familiar yet intensified territory Tuesday night at the Paycom Center, where the Oklahoma City Thunder faithful made their feelings about the San Antonio Spurs star abundantly clear. In a contest that saw the Thunder snap a three-game losing streak against San Antonio with a commanding 119-98 victory, the narrative centered as much on the hostile atmosphere as the scoreline.
Wembanyama, who finished with 17 points and seven rebounds, was met with a chorus of boos every time he touched the ball. The reception stems from a budding rivalry between the two Western Conference contenders, further fueled by Wembanyama’s past comments regarding “ethical basketball” which many Thunder fans interpreted as a slight against their playing style. Despite the vitriol, the 22-year-old center appeared unbothered, noting that the jeers were preferable to indifference.
“I think this is what makes us better,” Wembanyama said regarding the crowd’s reaction. “Obviously way more than a team that would ignore me.” He downplayed the severity of the heckling, suggesting that while he heard specific profanities directed his way, the environment was manageable compared to other venues he has visited in his career.
Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson echoed his star’s sentiment, describing Wembanyama as “old school” in his approach to such rivalries. Johnson noted that Wembanyama remains comfortable in his own skin and does not expend unnecessary energy on external noise, a trait he has displayed since his rookie season encounters at Madison Square Garden.
While Wembanyama embraced the villain role, the night belonged to Oklahoma City. The defending NBA champions utilized a balanced attack to hand San Antonio its most lopsided loss of the season. The defeat dropped the Spurs to 27-13, though they still hold a 3-1 advantage in the season series. The Thunder’s defense stifled the Spurs, holding them to a season-low 98 points and preventing Wembanyama from taking over the game late.
Critics might argue that the “villain” narrative is premature given the Thunder’s recent dominance in the standings and their status as title holders. While the individual matchup between Wembanyama and Thunder center Chet Holmgren continues to draw headlines, the on-court results Tuesday suggested that Oklahoma City is more focused on collective identity than individual feuds. Holmgren contributed eight points and 10 rebounds, prioritizing defensive schemes that neutralized San Antonio’s attack.
The rivalry appears set to deepen as both teams jockey for playoff positioning in the West. For Wembanyama, the hostile reception in Oklahoma City is now just another standard feature of the league’s competitive landscape.
