The bad thing is that the Victor Wembanyama era has been delayed. This may or may not be a problem for the NBA. Probably more than any other sports league, it relies on the visibility of its superstars. The faces of the league are aging, and soon they will be making their exit. Pretty soon, there will be no Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and, believe it or not, LeBron James on the court.
Back in 2025, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said, “I think the state of the game is excellent.” This might be true, but you can tell the NBA has been actively searching for the new face of its league. The attempt to make Wembanyama that person has been obvious. He is a great player, but it seems like every good game and great play is amplified.
In this year’s Finals, he showed he has talent, charisma, and looks to be that person soon. The Finals also exposed his need to grow as a player and his inability to snatch the spotlight.
The good thing is that the New York Knicks’ victory has captured the hearts of the people. The bright lights of the city, the aura, and the celebrity fanbase have made it easy for the casual fan to gravitate to their team.
The ugly way the San Antonio Spurs lost was disappointing to me. To see them dominate in almost every game, only to lose in the end, was hard to watch. I understand they are a young team, but it seems that their collapse had more to do with incompetence than youth. Despite the mishaps of the Spurs, I would have to admit the good outweighed the bad in the 2026 NBA Finals.