Victor Wembanyama’s response should worry Knicks after Game 1

The New York Knicks walked away from Game 1 with exactly what they wanted. They stole home court advantage and grabbed an early lead in the NBA Finals. Yet the most important takeaway from Wednesday night may have come from the losing locker room.

Victor Wembanyama was not searching for excuses after the 105-95 defeat. "I was bad tonight. It's not more complicated than that," Wembanyama said.

That admission matters because it removes much of the mystery surrounding San Antonio's loss. The Spurs do not believe they were exposed by a superior opponent. Their franchise star believes they were undone by mistakes they can correct.

Wembanyama finished with 26 points, 12 rebounds, and three blocks. Those numbers usually tell the story of a dominant performance. This time they did not. He committed six turnovers and missed 15 shots. Both totals were postseason career highs.

Most stars would point toward defensive schemes or difficult matchups. Wembanyama did neither. Instead, he immediately agreed with Mitch Johnson's assessment that he must establish a stronger presence near the basket.

"I agree with the coach," Wembanyama said. "Every team guards differently. I'm going to figure it out."

That response should catch New York's attention.

Players become dangerous when they understand exactly what went wrong. Wembanyama did not leave Game 1 questioning his confidence. He left believing he had drifted away from the version of himself that usually makes San Antonio difficult to stop.

The timing makes that realization even more significant. Despite his struggles, the Spurs still held a fourth-quarter lead. They remained within reach of a victory while receiving a performance their best player openly described as bad.

That is why panic never appeared inside San Antonio's locker room.

"This is why I'm not worried," Wembanyama said. "We're going to be so much better. I'm going to be so much better."

The Knicks earned the first win of the series. The challenge now is dealing with a Spurs team that believes its biggest problem already has a solution.

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