By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Victor Wembanyama is officially ready to trade the marathon of the regular season for the intensity of the postseason in the NBA.
As the San Antonio Spurs prepare for Game 1 of their best-of-seven series against the Portland Trail Blazers this Sunday at the Frost Bank Center, the French phenom noted a distinct shift in the team’s energy. “You can feel it, for sure. Everybody is a little bit more locked in. Everybody is a little bit more involved. I’ve missed playing in high-stakes games,” he opened a media session following team practice on Wednesday.
For the 22-year-old center, the 2026 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google, represent the fulfillment of a lifelong ambition shared by many international stars. “We were dreaming of the Playoffs as kids, before we came here,” Wembanyama stressed, reflecting on the journey to his first NBA postseason appearance.
While the NBA schedule is grueling, Wemby admitted that nothing quite compares to the pressure of playoff basketball. “There are games in the Regular Season that are more interesting than others, for sure, but the last really high-stakes I remember are in the Olympics,” he explained.
Despite missing two of the final three contests in the 2025-26 Regular Season with a rib contusion, the Alien reassured fans about his health. “I’m very close, but we never really go back to 100%, except before the offseason. There’s always something going on. In terms of regular-season shape, I’m very close.”
After a dominant third season, in which he averaged 25.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks over 64 appearances, Wembanyama is now focused on San Antonio’s quest for a deep postseason run.