The Knicks are four wins away from their first NBA title since 1973, but Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs stand in their way.

Wembanyama is one of the most physically gifted athletes to ever play in the NBA. At 7-foot-4, 235 pounds, Wembanyama is a two-way force, winning this season’s Defensive Player of the Year award while also averaging 25.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, 1.0 steal, and 3.1 blocks per game. 

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Wembanyama praised the Knicks and said he expects them to come out with a purpose in the series.

“It’s a great team of experienced guys who are not here by chance,” Wembanyama said. “They play with relentless effort over the years, and very different career paths for all of them. They’re right where they’re supposed to be, in my opinion, and all of them are going to be super hungry in their own way.”

Just 22 years old, Wembanyama has been a force for the Spurs during their playoff run, averaging 23.2 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks. 

In five career regular season games against the Knicks, Wembanyama has averaged 30.4 points, 14.6 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks. That excludes a performance in the NBA Cup Championship where the Knicks limited him to 18 points and six rebounds.

He’ll obviously present quite the challenge for the Knicks on both sides of the floor, forcing the Knicks to stay within their gameplan to try to slow him down.

“Obviously, he’s a special talent and the NBA’s blessed to have him and to be able to showcase his talent to the world,” said Karl-Anthony Towns. “For us, we just have to have discipline in our gameplan and execute at a high level.”

“Watching him as a player, it’s pretty unbelievable,” said Jalen Brunson, “the things he’s able to do on both sides of the ball, people have never really seen before for a person at his size. It’s incredible to watch from a fan’s perspective. 

“As an opposing player, he’s someone you constantly have to be on watch for. You just never know the things that he’s capable of doing. That’s why our game-planning and gameplay discipline and attention to details are so important, because he’s pretty incredible.”

While Wembanyama has led the way for San Antonio, he’s far from the only threat the Spurs possess. Five other San Antonio players are averaging double-digit points this postseason (Stephon Castle, De’Aaron Fox, Dylan Harper, Devin Vassell, Julian Champagnie), and the Knicks know they’re facing a very deep Spurs team that goes far beyond Wembanyama’s lengthy reach.

“They’re a very versatile team, very deep,” said OG Anunoby. “They have talent all over the court at all positions. They can all shoot, drive, do everything. They rebound really well too. If they’re getting the rebound, they can push, one-man fastbreak or really just push the pace. They speed the game up. They do a great job of doing that.”

Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals tips off in San Antonio on Wednesday night at 8:30 p.m.