Thunder favored at home in Game 7 against a Spurs team with a first-year coach and a 22-year-old star
The NBA’s wishes have been granted. I think we all did that, to some extent. There haven’t been many great series outside of the first round of the NBA playoffs, but at least we got a great series between the Spurs and Thunder, who had Game 7 to decide their fate.
The San Antonio Spurs shouldn’t be doing this. There is no lack of talent, but teams need to struggle before they can succeed. The Bulls failed many times before coming out on top and never looking back. LeBron’s Heat gave up their first championship attempt. That doesn’t mean San Antonio will win the title if they win this game, but just pushing the defending champions to the brink is impressive.
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama takes a shot against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half of Game 6 of the Western Conference finals NBA playoffs on May 28, 2026 in San Antonio. (David J. Phillip/AP)
To further this point, let’s look at the squad and the manager. Head coach Mitch Johnson had never coached a team before this. Of course, Greg Popovich is still “around” and teaching him a lesson. The oldest player to play significant minutes on the roster is 33 years old (Harrison Barnes). Victor Wembanyama is 22 years old and in his third season. De’Aaron Fox is 28, Keldon Johnson is 26, Devin Vassell is 25, Julian Champagnie is 24, Stephon Castle is 21 and Dylan Harper is 20. That’s a lot of young talent and emerging talent.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have been here before. The Indiana Pacers, a team I consider worse than this Spurs team, held them to seven games last year. They made it through the first two rounds of the play-offs this year and now they’re going up against this physical, hungry and talented Spurs team. But the Thunder are one of the few teams that gel well together and have an equally young core. They also currently have the championship belt and until that belt is taken away from them you should give them the benefit of the doubt.
Spurs Blast Thunder, VICTOR LEADS WITH 28 DOUBLE-DOUBLE AT WEMBANNY in Force Game 7
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama makes a move against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second half of Game 5 of the Western Conference finals NBA playoffs on May 26, 2026 in Oklahoma City. (Gerald Leong/AP)
There are exactly two people over the age of 30 in their team’s squad; Alex Caruso and Kenrich Williams. Caruso has made a huge impact this season and even Williams has been helpful in the process. The rest of the Thunder’s core is 27 or younger. I should point out that Isaiah Hartenstein is 28 years old. Their ages have little to do with Game 7, but my guess is that this isn’t the last time we’ll see these two teams play in a high-stakes scenario.
Age is not very important, but experience is important. I know Spurs are well coached. There’s a quirky nature to their squad and they have some really great players. As long as they can keep the group together, they will be a problem for the rest of the league. I’d say it’s not only possible, but probable that Wembanyama is the best player in basketball history.
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Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander takes a shot as San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama defends in the third quarter of game two during the Western Conference finals at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on May 20, 2026. (Brett Rojo/Imagn Images)
If he wins tonight’s game, that could be a big step forward. Unfortunately for him, I don’t see that happening tonight. I love Spurs and their unity but there are very few teams that make the leap like this. They need to learn to win. The Thunder are at home and they’ve been here before. Spurs are on the road, there are a lot of players experiencing this for the first time and they need Wembanyama’s all-time best performance to win. Give me Thunder -3.5.
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