On Tuesday, the San Antonio Spurs will face the New York Knicks in an attempt to win the Emirates NBA Cup. It’s the first time the team has reached the final round of the In-Season Tournament. However, they have an interesting strategy ahead of their matchup that involves their star player, Victor Wembanyama.
In their semifinal game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the team had Wembanyama come off the bench. It was his first time back after missing 12 straight games due to a calf strain. The Frenchman did a lot on the floor, even though he wasn’t part of the starting lineup. He finished the game with 22 points, nine rebounds and two blocks in 21 minutes, helping the team with a 111-109 win.
For their game against the Knicks, head coach Mitch Johnson revealed that the team will approach it the same way. Wembanyama will serve as the Spurs’ sixth man. Johnson confirmed via Brett Siegel ahead of the contest that the big man could see an increase in playing time. But he pointed out that it will depend on stoppages and his fatigue.
Wembanyama has appeared in 13 games, averaging 25.8 points, 12.6 rebounds and 3.5 blocks this season. His strong play helped San Antonio have momentum early in the 2025-26 NBA season.
Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama calls the Knicks “tough”
The San Antonio Spurs have been one of the biggest surprises in the league. The Texas-based team had a strong 18-7 start, tied with the Los Angeles Lakers for third place. The New York Knicks, on the other hand, have lived up to the hype. The Knicks are expected to be title contenders this season, after making the Eastern Conference finals last year.
Ahead of their NBA Cup bout, Victor Wembanyama was asked about what he thinks of the Knicks.
“They don’t play a brand of basketball as sophisticated as the Miami Heat or the Thunder,” said Victor. “But their physicality is top in the league, so it’s a very tough team to play against.”
Victor Wembanyama on the Knicks: "They don't play a brand of basketball as sophisticated as the Miami Heat or the Thunder. But their physicality is top in the league, so it's a very tough team to play against" pic.twitter.com/kyBb8siUap
— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) December 16, 2025
Wembanyama said that being able to match their physicality will be a major key to them potentially winning the NBA Cup.
