By Matthew Couden0ShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberSee more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.The New York Knicks face a tall task in the NBA Finals as 7-foot-4 big man Victor Wembanyama leads the San Antonio Spurs into battle in just his third season.
Wemby, the Spurs' No. 1 pick from France in the NBA 2024 Draft, is only 22 and already showing he's capable of delivering massive performances on the hardwood.
And according to Andre Drummond, the Knicks have an impossible challenge with the Spurs' superstar in the upcoming best-of-seven series.
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"I don't think there's an answer [for Wembanyama]. I think you live with what he does," he explained on N3ON's stream recently, mentioning Wemby's ability to play like a guard despite his towering height.
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..."I think if they slow down everybody else, like all the other guards, and let him do his thing, they got a chance, but [Karl Anthony Towns] and Mitchell Robinson got a long series ahead of him," Drummond told N3ON.
The Knicks were 2-1 in the regular season against the Spurs, including winning the NBA Cup Championship against them, 124-113 in Las Vegas. Wembanyama was under injury management during that stretch, coming off the bench to play 25 minutes, scoring 18 points, and grabbing six rebounds.
Wemby had 25 points and 13 rebounds in an 114-89 loss to the Knicks at Madison Square Garden in early March. Mikal Bridges stepped up significantly with a 25-point, five-block performance in his team's win.
The Spurs' lone win against the Knicks came less than halfway into the season. It was a 134-132 win in San Antonio on Dec. 31, with Wembanyama scoring 31 points, grabbing 13 rebounds, and blocking a shot. Julian Champagnie and De'Aaron Fox also stepped up with 36 points and 26 points, respectively.
Meanwhile, Drummond has faced Wemby as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers this past season, mostly as Joel Embiid's backup.
The 76ers only played San Antonio twice and lost both times. Although Wemby played, neither was a particularly impressive performance compared to what he's shown. Still, Drummond experienced firsthand how good the Frenchman is in just his third year.
Despite his putting the Knicks on notice, they are probably already planning how to limit Wemby's effectiveness. Many analysts claim New York's big men, Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson, could match up well and draw him away from the paint throughout the series, forcing Wemby to rely on his jump shots.
And although Drummond doesn't believe the Knicks can defend Wemby effectively during these NBA Finals, he still picked New York to win the series against the Spurs during N3ON's stream.
Game 1 will occur at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC and ESPN on Wednesday.
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