The Alien Arrives: Wemby Leads Spurs To NBA Finals

Damn.

Victor Wembanyama done messed around and got the San Antonio Spurs back to the NBA

Finals already.

ALREADY!

Three years into his career.

Three!

I don't know whether to be impressed, terrified, or call Adam Silver and ask if this brotha was built in a secret laboratory somewhere underneath Area 51.

Because what we're watching doesn't make sense.

The Spurs knocked off the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 7 and punched their ticket to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014.

The 111-103 victory also extended the NBA's streak of different champions to eight consecutive seasons, the longest streak in league history.

And yours truly?

I picked OKC in six.

Excuse me while I hold this L.

Wemby Is Moving At A Pace We've Never Seen

Let's be clear.

This ain't normal.

This ain't supposed to happen.

At 22 years old, Wembanyama is already:

• Western Conference Finals MVP

• Unanimous Defensive Player of the Year

• Rookie of the Year

• 2x All-Star

• 2x All-Defensive First Team

• All-NBA First Team

• 3x Blocks Champion

• All-Rookie First Team

And now?

An NBA Finals appearance.

The brother is collecting accomplishments like they're Pokémon cards.

Meanwhile, most 22-year-olds are still trying to figure out how to properly fold a fitted sheet.

Wemby averaged 27.3 points, 10.9 rebounds, 2.7 blocks, and 1.4 steals in the Western Conference Finals while shooting 48.1% from the floor and 40% from three.

He earned the Earvin "Magic" Johnson Trophy as Western Conference Finals MVP.

Read that again.

The man is blocking shots, shooting threes, protecting the rim, switching onto guards, and carrying a Finals team.

What exactly CAN'T he do?

The Thunder Had No Answers

And that's what's scary.

OKC isn't some cute little Cinderella story.

They were the defending champs.

They had the MVP in SGA.

They had home court.

They had experience.

And the Spurs still sent them fishing.

San Antonio finished 8-4 against OKC this season and looked like the more composed team when everything was on the line.

Wemby finished Game 7 with 22 points and seven rebounds, while the Spurs received major contributions from Stephon Castle, De'Aaron Fox, Julian Champagnie, Dylan Harper and Devin Vassell.

That's the part Knicks fans should be paying attention to.

Everybody wants to make this series about Wemby.

And rightfully so.

But San Antonio's supporting cast is no joke.

Stephon Castle Is Turning Into A Problem

Can we talk about Stephon Castle for a second?

This young man has developed into an absolute DAWG.

Every time the Spurs needed a bucket in this playoff run, Castle showed up like that one cousin who always pulls up to the family barbecue with extra food.

Reliable.

Dependable.

Ready to hoop.

Then you've got Dylan Harper playing like he forgot he's supposed to be a rookie.

The kid doesn't move like a rookie.

He doesn't think like a rookie.

And he definitely doesn't play scared.

Add in Vassell, Fox, Champagnie, and the rest of the crew, and suddenly this Spurs team looks a whole lot deeper than people want to admit.

Mitch Johnson Deserves His Flowers Too

And let me say this.

Mitch Johnson deserves a standing ovation.

The man took over one of the most pressure-filled jobs in basketball and coached his behind off.

He coached like somebody told him his rent was due at midnight.

The Spurs went from lottery conversations to NBA Finals conversations in record time.

That's coaching.

That's player development.

That's organizational culture.

And yes, that's having a 7-foot-5 basketball alien who makes everybody else's job easier.

Is Wemby Already The Face Of The NBA?

I know.

I know.

Some of y'all ain't ready for that conversation.

Too bad.

We're having it.

Because if Wemby wins a championship this year as the best player on the team?

The conversation is OVER.

Finished.

Done.

Wrap it up.

He's already one of the most impactful defenders in basketball.

He's already one of the most unique offensive weapons in basketball.

And he's only getting better.

The scary part?

He's nowhere near his prime.

That's like giving somebody the keys to a Bugatti and finding out they haven't even learned how to drive yet.

Don't Sleep On The Knicks

Now hold on.

Before Knicks fans start flooding my mentions.

I'm not counting New York out.

Absolutely not.

The Knicks have been on an incredible playoff run and are looking for their first championship since 1973.

This Finals matchup also happens to be a rematch of the 1999 NBA Finals, which San Antonio won behind Tim Duncan and David Robinson.

Jalen Brunson is playing out of his mind.

The Knicks are confident.

They're battle-tested.

And they're not showing up just to participate.

But let's be honest.

The biggest storyline isn't New York.

It's Wemby.

Everything is Wemby.

The attention.

The hype.

The expectations.

The future of the league.

All of it.

Final Thoughts: The NBA Better Enjoy This While It Can

Because if Victor Wembanyama wins a title before turning 23?

Lord have mercy.

The rest of the league may be fighting for second place for the next decade.

The Spurs went from missing the playoffs for years to standing four wins away from another championship.

That's insane.

And the biggest reason why is a 7-foot-5 alien standing there, blocking shots from another zip code and making NBA veterans question their life choices every time they enter the paint.

Wemby cried after reaching the Finals.

I get it.

It's emotional.

It's a childhood dream.

But if I'm him?

I'm hearing Kobe's voice.

Job's not finished.

The Finals start Wednesday.

The Knicks are waiting.

And the basketball world is about to find out whether Victor Wembanyama is simply the future of the NBA...

Or if the future has already arrived.