Full Breakdown
Victor Wembanyama’s Struggles Mark Spurs’ Season-Opening Loss to Oklahoma City
By Drooid · · How we work
Game Summary
The San Antonio Spurs fell 116-104 to the Oklahoma City Thunder on opening night in October 2026. Victor Wembanyama logged 12 points, 13 rebounds and six blocks but shot 1-for-13 (8%). The 12 missed attempts tied the second-most missed field goals to start a season opener in the play-by-play era (since 1997-98). Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 32 points as they built a 26-point second-quarter lead before the Spurs cut the deficit to single digits in the second half. (NYPost; ESPN)
Background & Context
Last season the Spurs entered the playoffs as the Western Conference’s No. 2 seed, eliminated the defending champion Boston Celtics and advanced to the NBA Finals. Expectations carried into the new campaign, with Wembanyama positioned as the league’s top rookie and a focal point of the offense.
Data & Statistics
- Wembanyama: 12 points, 13 rebounds, six blocks; 1-for-13 FG.
- Thunder shooting: 10-of-14 from three in the first half; 65-44 lead at halftime.
- Spurs three-point shooting: 10-for-37 overall; Stephon Castle accounted for half of those makes.
- Prior matchup: On May 30 the Spurs defeated the Thunder 111-103 in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals. (NYPost; Date Ledger)
Official Statements & Responses
Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson said the team “struggled pretty equally” and noted the field-goal percentage “will stand out” while emphasizing collective responsibility. Guard De’Aaron Fox observed that the Spurs’ guards need to create easier scoring opportunities for Wembanyama, and teammate Stephon Castle stressed the importance of better screens to free him.
Criticism & Opposition
NBA legend Carmelo Anthony questioned whether Wembanyama had improved his post-up game, asking, “What have you worked on, skill set-wise?” and adding, “You can’t be seven-whatever and don’t have that [post] skillset … Did I work on that enough to be effective?”
Verbatim Quotes
- “I need to go back to playing the basketball I like,” — Victor Wembanyama
- “I think everybody struggled pretty equally,” — Mitch Johnson, Spurs coach
- “Whenever he's able to get those easy baskets, then you see the highlight plays. If we can make it just a little bit easier for him, I think that's when you start seeing the 40, 45 points, the step-back 3s. That's when those things will happen.” — Stephon Castle
Why It Matters
The opening-night performance highlighted two immediate concerns for San Antonio: the need for Wembanyama to develop a reliable post-up arsenal and the requirement for the guard-heavy lineup to generate higher-percentage looks. Both issues were underscored by the Thunder’s effective help defense and the Spurs’ poor three-point shooting.