NBA Hall of Famer brutally mocks claims OKC bullied Victor Wembanyama — here’s why

The San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder are tied 1-1 now in the Western Conference Finals after the Thunder won Game 2 convincingly.

In Game 1, Victor Wembanyama carried San Antonio to a thrilling double-overtime road win with 41 points and 24 rebounds. To counter him in Game 2, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault increased Isaiah Hartenstein’s minutes from 12 to 27, giving the 7-foot, 250-pound center the primary assignment of stopping Wembanyama.

The change worked, however. Hartenstein’s physicality limited Wembanyama 10 points in the paint, down from 26 in the opener. Wembanyama still finished Game 2 with 21 points, 17 rebounds, six assists and four blocks, but the adjustment successfully slowed his scoring.

Following Game 2, multiple media personalities, sports analysts, and thousands of fans documented Hartenstein’s hyper-physical approach against Wembanyama. Reggie Miller pointed out the Thunder center's tactic on air during a live highlight package, noting, “Again, he has all the weight. He's just holding, grabbing, he's clenching, and he's trying to wear on Wembanyama.”

Ringer's Bill Simmons thinks that if Hartenstein continues to grab and maul Wemby as he did in Game 2, then he should play 48 minutes. The debate about physicality started in the previous round. During the Spurs' second-round series against Minnesota, coach Mitch Johnson argued that referees needed to protect Wembanyama.

"Every single play on every single part of the floor, people are trying to impose their physicality on you," Johnson said via ESPN. Wembanyama was even ejected in Game 4 of that series for hitting Timberwolves forward Naz Reid in the face with an elbow.

But Hall of Famer Charles Barkley wasn't buying the idea of going soft against the 22-year-old big man. On “Inside the NBA,” the Round Mound of Rebound said, "You people at home and TV talking about they were physical with Wemby, man, y'all need to stop it. I've been kissed harder. Was he physical, putting the body on him?”

He added, “I love Hartenstein, but he just put a body on Wemby. He wasn't overly aggressive, he didn't hit anybody, and there were no excessive fouls. For you people thinking that's physicality, y'all need to shut the hell up!"

Barkley spent 16 seasons as one of the league's most physical players, averaging 11.7 rebounds at just 6-foot-6 against much taller centers. He understands that using leverage is just part of the game, making Thunder’s Game 2 a tactical victory rather than dirty play.

As the series shifts to San Antonio, Wembanyama will look to reassert himself on his home court. Yet, despite Barkley's blunt dismissal, the physicality narrative is not going anywhere soon.

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