Kendrick Perkins Criticizes Victor Wembanyama’s Finals Performance

Kendrick Perkins did not hold back in his criticism of Victor Wembanyama after the Spurs’ loss to the Knicks in the NBA Finals. During a discussion on Yahoo Sports, the former NBA player and ESPN analyst pointed out significant flaws in Wembanyama’s performance.

“Let’s be honest—Wembanyama was soft, especially during crucial moments,” Perkins stated. “He talked a big game in interviews, but didn’t show up when it mattered.” He suggested that if he were in the locker room, he would advise Wembanyama to fully embrace his role as a tall player with the skills of a guard. After the first two games, Perkins noted, the Knicks adapted their strategy to hide Wembanyama, which diminished his effectiveness on defense, especially against someone like Karl-Anthony Towns, a renowned Defensive Player of the Year. “Just accept being a big man,” he emphasized, “and you’d likely become one of the most dominant players in the league.”

Perkins wasn’t alone in his observations. Kevin O’Connor from Yahoo Sports also expressed concerns about Wembanyama’s offensive play during the Finals. He remarked on a lack of reliability in Wembanyama’s shooting and physicality, pointing out that these aspects highlight how much further he has to go in his development. “He seems to lack a signature move or spot on the court,” O’Connor noted. “It often feels like he’s still trying to figure out his game.”

Despite finishing third in MVP voting for the season, Wembanyama’s stats from the Finals were less than stellar. He averaged 26 points per game, but his shooting was a concern—only 42 percent from the field and about 27 percent from three-point range. Particularly in Game 4, which was a historic collapse for the Spurs, he shot 9 of 25; in Game 5, it was 7 of 19.