Victor Wembanyama Told by Gregg Popovich After Game 1 Finals Loss: ‘You’ve Played Better Than This’
Victor Wembanyama received an early critique from Gregg Popovich after the Spurs’ 105-95 loss to the New York Knicks in Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals, and the message was blunt: he played poorly, even if he still produced big numbers. Wembanyama scored 26 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and blocked three shots on Wednesday night, but he struggled with efficiency, shooting 6-for-21 from the field and 2-for-9 from 3-point range. After the game, Wembanyama said simply, “I was bad tonight,” and later explained that he had not yet spoken directly with Popovich, though he had received text messages from the former Spurs coach.
The Spurs did not practice on Thursday because of the short turnaround before Game 2, which is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET on Friday in San Antonio. Wembanyama said the loss was not caused by “technical or tactical” issues, but instead by the team’s mentality after building a 14-point lead in the third quarter and then losing control of the game. He said the Spurs need to be calmer and more disciplined, describing the ideal approach as “normal” basketball: trusting one another, trusting the game plan, and not relying too heavily on individual talent to rescue possessions.
Wembanyama emphasized that the Spurs have won all season by playing a certain way, and he believes there is no reason to abandon that formula now that the Finals have begun. He said the team should not feel pressure to do anything extraordinary against the Knicks, but instead should focus on execution and consistency. His comments suggested that San Antonio’s issues in Game 1 were more about composure and identity than any major strategic breakdown.
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson echoed that view, pointing to specific areas where San Antonio fell short. The Knicks outscored the Spurs 23-14 in second-chance points and the Spurs finished with only 16 assists, both signs that the offense lacked rhythm and sharpness. Johnson also said New York successfully packed the paint and limited the Spurs’ lob game, an important part of San Antonio’s attack that often feeds Wembanyama near the basket.
Johnson said the Spurs should be able to find better answers in Game 2 by taking advantage of the space New York is conceding in order to prevent Wembanyama from dominating inside. He described the team’s performance as leaving many opportunities for improvement and said the Spurs can be much sharper in executing the game plan. With the series now shifting into a critical second game, San Antonio will try to respond with better focus, cleaner possessions and a more controlled approach around its franchise star.
