Shaquille O'Neal identifies what Victor Wembanyama needs to do after Spurs' Finals collapse

Shaquille O’Neal identifies what Victor Wembanyama needs to do after Spurs’ Finals collapse originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The New York Knicks beat the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5 on Saturday night to win their first NBA championship since 1973. With this victory, Mike Brown’s squad kept their perfect 3-0 road record in the Finals intact. They lost only once at home in the postseason. 

Meanwhile, for the Spurs and their 22-year-old phenom, it was a brutal end to what had been a generational season. Victor Wembanyama averaged 26 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 3.6 blocks per game in the Finals and won Defensive Player of the Year during the regular season. 

He was the clear face of the Spurs’ future and one of the most compelling players in the league all year.  But in the biggest moments, his lack of physicality became an issue. And Shaquille O’Neal, who spent his Hall of Fame career overpowering opponents, had no interest in sugarcoating it while speaking on ESPN’s “Inside the NBA.” 

O’Neal delivered a direct offseason prescription to him, saying, “As good as he is, he’s going to need to get stronger,” O’Neal said. “Because when you become a dominant big man, people are going to force, and a lot of times he couldn’t handle it. So, I don’t know what he’s going to do this summer, but he definitely needs to get in that weight room and get stronger.”

Shaq says Wemby needs to hit the weight room this summer after losing to the Knicks:

“As good as he is, he’s going to need to get stronger. Because when you become a dominant big man, people are going to force…. So, I don’t know what he’s going to do this summer, but he… pic.twitter.com/JOQyUVk4Za

— NBA Base (@TheNBABase) June 14, 2026

New York made Wemby’s life difficult on the hardwood by constantly switching physical defenders onto him, using Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson. Towns attacked him on offense, while Anunoby used his body strength to counter Wembanyama’s height. The Knicks didn’t even try to outplay him with skill. They just outmuscled him.

And, it wasn’t a new problem. During the first two games of the Finals, analyst Michael Wilbon noted that Wembanyama seemed passive against New York’s physical defense. In the first half of Game 2, he scored just seven points before recovering in the second half. His talent is obvious, but his thin frame was exposed.

O’Neal knows this dynamic well because he used to be the one overpowering players. At 22 years old, Wembanyama has a long career ahead, and his summer priority is clear following the NBA legend’s advice.

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