By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
With one fluid motion, Victor Wembanyama didn’t just sink a jumper, but buried six years of frustration. The 22-year-old Frenchman drained a 17-foot, pull-up jumper with just one second remaining on Thursday night, lifting the San Antonio Spurs to a 101-100 victory over the Phoenix Suns and officially clinching a spot in the 2026 NBA Playoffs presented by Google.
The win marks a historic turning point for the franchise, ending a six-season postseason drought. Wemby was the engine behind the milestone, finishing with a dominant 34 points, 12 rebounds, three steals, and a block in 35 minutes of action at the Frost Bank Center.
Reflecting on the decisive final play, the young center credited the chemistry with his teammates. “We ran the play, and De’Aaron [Fox] reacted well, actually anticipated what the defense would do. So, kind of told me what to do,” he said in a postgame press conference. “And in these situations, I guess the key is to not overcomplicate. We know it’s not going to be an open shot most of the time. So, it’s pretty straightforward.”
Despite the high stakes, Wembanyama appeared unfazed by the pressure of the moment. “It’s very fun,” he added regarding the game-winner. “We hadn’t had this type of situation in a while. And it was a good test, and we passed it. It doesn’t mean that our game was perfect, far from that. I think it was actually below average, but it was a good test, especially in this part of the year.”
The team coached by Mitch Johnson surged to a 52-18 record in the 2025-26 Regular Season. However, Wemby remains focused on the bigger picture, showing a veteran-like discipline. “The first instinct is to be proud of it, and love it because you’re part of it, but the key for me is to try not to care,” he commented on clinching a postseason berth. “Because we want to attack 82 games. I’m not going to lie, I’m scared to become complacent.”