Shaquille O'Neal identifies what Victor Wembanyama needs to do after Spurs' Finals collapse
<div class="wp-block-wptelegram-widget-join-channel aligncenter">
	<a href="https://t.me/nairavoice" class="components-button join-link is-large has-text has-icon" target="_self" rel="noopener noreferrer">
		<svg width="19px" height="16px" viewBox="0 0 19 16" role="img" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false">
			<g>
				<path d="M0.465,6.638 L17.511,0.073 C18.078,-0.145 18.714,0.137 18.932,0.704 C19.009,0.903 19.026,1.121 18.981,1.33 L16.042,15.001 C15.896,15.679 15.228,16.111 14.549,15.965 C14.375,15.928 14.211,15.854 14.068,15.748 L8.223,11.443 C7.874,11.185 7.799,10.694 8.057,10.345 C8.082,10.311 8.109,10.279 8.139,10.249 L14.191,4.322 C14.315,4.201 14.317,4.002 14.195,3.878 C14.091,3.771 13.926,3.753 13.8,3.834 L5.602,9.138 C5.112,9.456 4.502,9.528 3.952,9.333 L0.486,8.112 C0.077,7.967 -0.138,7.519 0.007,7.11 C0.083,6.893 0.25,6.721 0.465,6.638 Z" ></path>
			</g>
		</svg>
		Join Nairavoice On Telegram	</a>
</div>
<figure><img src="https://media.zenfs.com/en/the_sporting_news_articles_584/80374c909de112d7ab70a20bf322fe3c" /></figure>
<p><em><a href="https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/san-antonio-spurs/news/shaq-reveals-what-wembanyama-needs-after-spurs-finals-loss/91c12f0cd9d54ec3a62c72c9?utm_source=yahoo&;utm_medium=referral&;utm_campaign=appeared_on">Shaquille O&#8217;Neal identifies what Victor Wembanyama needs to do after Spurs&#8217; Finals collapse</a> originally appeared on <a href="https://www.sportingnews.com/us?utm_source=yahoo&;utm_medium=referral&;utm_campaign=appeared_on">The Sporting News</a>.<br />
 Add The Sporting News as a <a href="https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=https://www.sportingnews.com">Preferred Source by clicking here</a>.</em></p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/new-york-knicks">New York Knicks</a> beat the <a href="https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/san-antonio-spurs">San Antonio Spurs</a> 94-90 in Game 5 on Saturday night to win their first NBA championship since 1973. With this victory, Mike Brown&#8217;s squad kept their perfect 3-0 road record in the Finals intact. They lost only once at home in the postseason. </p>
<p>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. </p>
<p>He was the clear face of the Spurs&#8217; 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&#8217;Neal, who spent his Hall of Fame career overpowering opponents, had no interest in sugarcoating it while speaking on ESPN&#8217;s &#8220;Inside the NBA.&#8221; </p>
<p>O&#8217;Neal delivered a direct offseason prescription to him, <a href="https://x.com/TheNBABase/status/2066023880360440296?s=20" target="_blank">saying</a>, &#8220;As good as he is, he&#8217;s going to need to get stronger,&#8221; O&#8217;Neal said. &#8220;Because when you become a dominant big man, people are going to force, and a lot of times he couldn&#8217;t handle it. So, I don&#8217;t know what he&#8217;s going to do this summer, but he definitely needs to get in that weight room and get stronger.&#8221;</p>
<blockquote><p>Shaq says Wemby needs to hit the weight room this summer after losing to the Knicks:</p>
<p>&#8220;As good as he is, he&#8217;s going to need to get stronger. Because when you become a dominant big man, people are going to force…. So, I don&#8217;t know what he&#8217;s going to do this summer, but he… <a href="https://t.co/JOQyUVk4Za" target="_blank">pic.twitter.com/JOQyUVk4Za</a></p>
<p>— NBA Base (@TheNBABase) <a href="https://x.com/TheNBABase/status/2066023880360440296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">June 14, 2026</a></p></blockquote>
<p>New York made Wemby&#8217;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&#8217;s height. The Knicks didn&#8217;t even try to outplay him with skill. They just outmuscled him.</p>
<p>And, it wasn&#8217;t a new problem. During the first two games of the Finals, analyst Michael Wilbon noted that Wembanyama seemed passive against New York&#8217;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.</p>
<p>O&#8217;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&#8217;s advice.</p>
<h2>More NBA news:</h2>

Discover more from NAIRAVOICE.COM.NG
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.