The New York Knicks, having survived a furious comeback on Friday night, are now on the verge of winning their first NBA title since 1973. While the San Antonio Spurs could still rally and win four of the next six games, few outside of Texas realistically believe that is possible. But is what has happened through two games of the NBA Finals really all that shocking? Perhaps we should have seen it coming.
Wembanyama's Youthful Inexperience
Victor Wembanyama might be unlike anything the NBA has ever seen, but he is still a very young player. At 22 years old, it is historically rare for an NBA player, even a potential all-time great, to win a championship in his first or second postseason appearance. In Game 1, Wembanyama was dismal, shooting 6-for-21 from the field and appearing a step slow for most of the night. In Game 2, while dominant for stretches, he crumbled down the stretch. After grabbing a rebound in the dying seconds, he attempted to start a fast break but threw the ball off the back of teammate Stephon Castle, who was not looking. Then, gifted another chance after Jalen Brunson split free throws, Wembanyama could not get a jump shot to fall that would have forced overtime.
Historical Precedents
Wembanyama is not the first young superstar to struggle early in his career. Shaquille O'Neal, perhaps the most dominant big man in NBA history, was swept by the Indiana Pacers in his playoff debut as a 21-year-old. The following year, he led the Orlando Magic to the Finals but was swept and outplayed by Hakeem Olajuwon and the Houston Rockets. It took O'Neal five more years to become a champion at age 27.
Kobe Bryant, O'Neal's longtime teammate, was memorably awful for much of his first two playoff trips, including a series of airballs that ended a series loss to the Utah Jazz. He turned it around in his third year and dominated during the Lakers' three-peat.
LeBron James is perhaps the closest comparable to Wembanyama. Both were seen as the next big thing for years before entering the NBA, and both immediately became faces of the league. James did not make the playoffs until his third season, and at age 22, he led the Cleveland Cavaliers to the NBA Finals. There, the Cavs were swept by the Spurs, and James struggled, shooting only 35% from the floor with nearly as many turnovers as assists.
Exceptions to the Rule
While Magic Johnson and Larry Bird won championships early in their careers, they are exceptions, not the rule. Johnson was a champion and NBA Finals MVP as a 20-year-old rookie, and Bird won the title a year later. However, most young superstars, including O'Neal, Bryant, and James, faced early setbacks before ultimately winning championships.
Knicks' Historic Run
The New York Knicks have now won 13 straight playoff games, second only to the 2017 Golden State Warriors' 15 in a row. The Knicks are 14-2 in the playoffs this year, and they are just the third team to win the first two games of the Finals on the road, joining the 1993 Bulls and the 1995 Rockets. Knicks big man Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging 12.5 rebounds per game, the third-most by any player in the Finals since 2016, behind only Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Wembanyama's struggles are a predictable part of his development, and this series is likely just an early stumbling block, much like those faced by the legends before him.
