Victor Wembanyama just put on a defensive masterclass that will be talked about for years—even if the San Antonio Spurs came up short in a nail-biting 104-102 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1. The French phenom swatted away 12 shots, shattering the previous playoff record of 10 blocks held by legends like Hakeem Olajuwon, Mark Eaton, and Andrew Bynum.
But here’s where things get interesting: not everyone is convinced those blocks were all clean. Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch didn’t hold back when asked about the historic performance, suggesting that the officials might have missed a few calls.
“We looked at them, at least four of them were goaltending, maybe even a fifth. To me it’s a little alarming that none of them were called,” Finch said Tuesday. “I mean the third possession of the game was a goaltending and it was a clean, obvious one. So let’s just say there were four, that’s eight points.”
Finch emphasized how crucial those points could be in a playoff game decided by just two. “You know the value of eight points in an NBA game is massive, right?”
Even Rudy Gobert, known for his own defensive dominance, weighed in with a smirk. “Probably the first one [was goaltending]. But I mean if you look at them all, probably three or four.” He added with a grin, “I wish I had that type of treatment too.”
Wembanyama’s ability to alter shots is undeniable—his 7-foot-4 frame and incredible instincts make him a nightmare for any offense. But this debate adds a layer of drama to what was otherwise a record-breaking night. The question now is how officials will handle similar situations going forward. One thing’s for sure: whether you’re Team Wemby or Team Finch, this series just got a whole lot spicier.
