San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama cleared the air on the not-so-subtle jab he took at the Oklahoma City Thunder.

In praising the Spurs' "ethical basketball," Wembanyama made a statement that said as much about his team's progress as any opponent.

Basketball’s next phenom has the San Antonio Spurs contending for a championship. It’s all because of the shot he’s stopped shooting.

Yes, guys like Kevin Durant or Kristaps Porzingis have transcended normal limitations for their size and been able to dominate all over the court. But Wembanyama has multiple inches on even those guys. He is a unicorn the likes of which the NBA has never really seen before.

LAS VEGAS — There was a moment during Saturday’s NBA Cup semifinal game between the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder when it started to feel like Victor Wembanyama’s return was a ruse.

Victor Wembanyama could become the Thunder's greatest rival. That's what makes his hate for them so refreshing.

Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs recently did something only one other team in the NBA has managed this season. They beat the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder have been spectacular to start the 2025-26 campaign,

And that's perfectly fine. In fact, the NBA probably loves Wembanyama's one-sided bickering with Holmgren. And hopes the other party joins in sooner or later. After all, NBA fans love its theatrics almost as much as it loves the actual games being played.

The San Antonio Spurs star used the NBA Cup showcase to put the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder on notice in a semifinal victory.