FIRST TAKE | Wemby is F**KING RIDICULOUS - Lou Williams on Spurs beat Thunder in double-OT thriller

Added: 2026-05-26

[00:00:01]Welcome to the old show ABOUT BASKETBALL.

[00:00:03]>> [laughter] >> WHAT'S THAT? OH, I'M SORRY. HEY, welcome to Road Trippin'. Look who's back from the I don't know how many miles of airplane flying you put in these last month and a half, but Boogie >> Diamond member.

[00:00:13]>> You are a diamond. Like you walk into the airport and they're like, "Welcome to Absolutely. Red carpet.

[00:00:18]>> Love that for you. Uh Lou Will also here. Chandler, womp womp. He's feeling a little bit under the weather.

[00:00:23]>> Get better, bro.

[00:00:24]>> Um tough day to miss because today's going to be a fun one, guys. We had a game last night. And honestly, without trying to be too hyperbolic about this entire thing, probably the greatest game in the history of life. Uh guys, >> [music] >> I could read off a bunch of stats. I could tell you De'Aaron Fox wasn't there. I could tell you Wemby had 41, 24, and [music] three blocks. Dillon Harper who had to start 24, 11, seven steals, and six assists. Or I could let you start telling me what you saw because there's a lot going on, Boogie.

[00:00:53]>> [laughter] >> By the way, Steph Castle describing Wemby, "Best player in the effing world."

[00:01:00]I got no disagreement there. Do you? I can't [laughter] I can't disagree. It's a lot of truth to that, especially with the performance last night. Um I mean I know. I know. I don't know I don't even know where to really start with this. This guy put on a historic performance. He He showed he's the most dominant player on the floor.

[00:01:20]Yeah. He showed that he wanted it the most last night, especially more than the other bigs on the opposite side.

[00:01:26]>> We tried.

[00:01:26]>> Uh no, and that's and that's really where my issue is tonight. Like this despite the incredible uh performance by Wemby, I I put this on Chet. I put this on Chet. Um Really? Yeah, absolutely.

[00:01:40]Uh I think you have to step up and accept that challenge. That's his matchup. You know, there's no reason to be having your 6-3, 6-4 guards every possession guard him at the free throw line extended. You have to step up and accept that challenge. Um I think that's I think that's what changes the the series for OKC moving forward. If not, this could get really ugly if that's the game plan every night as far as, you know, how we want to guard Wemby. Wemby is the focal point of their offense. Wemby is the the X-factor. He's the game-changer. So, you have to accept that challenge to be the game-changer defensively. And the reason I'm saying that cuz he does have the ability to do so. Um I didn't like what I saw. I felt like Chet Is he scared? He tucked his tail. Okay.

[00:02:23]>> his tail. What do you mean he tucked his tail? Like I said, he's he's way too good for that, but uh I put this on him.

[00:02:29]I I I mean, I I believe they still had a chance to win despite the numbers.

[00:02:33]But defensively, the way he, you know, continued to kind of avoid that match-up, this is on Chet for me. Chet got to find a way to get him get involved in this game one way or another, whether it's going to be on the offensive end or or the defensive end.

[00:02:45]He has to be some type of presence, and you got to read the room. You know, this is this conversation started as a rivalry. So, when a man comes into your building that's highly motivated as he is, and you got the MVP on your side, you got to just you got to do your part.

[00:02:58]That's that's part of the conversation.

[00:03:00]That's a big part of the conversation.

[00:03:01]So, Boogie's right there. Other than that, I thought as great as Wemby as a player, and as much credit as we give him, last night was a coming out party.

[00:03:09]That's what make the playoffs so special because you know you're on the world stage. Everybody's watching this. This is the match-up we wanted to see, and he didn't disappoint us not one bit. He was dominant on both ends of the floor.

[00:03:20]Every single time that OKC made a run, it was when he was off the floor. They shot 58% when he was off the floor, uh under 40% when he was uh 58% when he was off the floor, under 40 when he was on the floor. I'm saying it backwards. Whatever. I got you.

[00:03:35]>> But We got you. Just his his presence, his presence alone, it just makes it easier for everybody around him to be able to do their part and play with confidence. Look at the night that Harper had as a young 20-year-old in this series. I It's incredible.

[00:03:49]>> Tremendous start. Huge shoes to fill when you when you see a De'Aaron Fox go out of the lineup and you ask the young fellow to step in step in instead of being a scoring threat off the bench, he steps in and do it as a starter and do his part. Castle had a solid solid night. That's where they're going to need that point guard, that presence. 11 turnovers to go with 11 assists at the same time. They kind of cancel each other out, but you want him to be more careful with the basketball. That's what Fox does for his team. But again, when you have a Wemby to patch up whatever mistakes that you make, that always gives you an opportunity to win a basketball game and that's what you saw last night, man. So, remember yesterday, Lou, and I was like, that man is going to sit there and watch this other man collect some hardware that he rightfully thinks he deserves and it's going to be a thing.

[00:04:34]>> motivated.

[00:04:34]>> And I said Spurs were going to win game one. Some say I'm a genius. I I don't want to say that, but that being said, >> to win it. Like, let's be clear. Like, this wasn't It wasn't a whooping.

[00:04:43]>> we went to two overtimes. Yeah, it wasn't It wasn't a whooping. Well, what you said, B, though, you you were right and he he confirmed it. He said a different dude. He said, "Yeah, I I took it personally." And for somebody that finished fourth in voting, you would feel like he was the runner-up. How he went out and and and performed in this game. And so, when you have somebody that takes so much pride and wanting to be the best player, that is a huge asset to have as your best player in the world, man. And and and on your team.

[00:05:08]And so, all the flowers in the world for Wemby.

[00:05:12]I was able to see it last night in in all 47 minutes that he that he did play.

[00:05:17]Uh it was just it was incredible to watch.

[00:05:20]And and for me, >> such an image. Yeah. Such an image.

[00:05:24]>> Superstar.

[00:05:25]>> This is it." [laughter] Look at this.

[00:05:27]>> That's a superstar. They got to frame that.

[00:05:29]>> You are our leader.

[00:05:29]>> man. You're him. They got He's to frame that right there. That's a superstar.

[00:05:33]>> a hundred Like, everybody has a moment like where you feel like [laughter] you've arrived. I feel like this is a That's a moment for Wemby right there.

[00:05:38]Can I give you guys an interesting cuz I was thinking this last night and Nick Wright wrote and shout-out cuz I don't always agree with Nick Wright, but this was a good one.

[00:05:46]1995, Hakeem Olajuwon had to in a building and watch David Robinson collect the hardware for MVP and his night that night for Olajuwon was a 41 16 4 3 and 2 win. Last night, same exact thing. Wemby watches SGA win something he wanted. 41 24 3 1 and 3. Like that is I don't know. I don't believe in like yes, I do. Who am I kidding? I'm superstitious and weird and I believe in all that fun stuff. That to me is crazy.

[00:06:11]Never give the MVP award to the person if the other one thought he should have had it. We call it Mamba mentality. I at some point I don't know if that'll be called something else, but Boogie it feels like this guy, this gentleman at such a young age really is showing something that not everybody has.

[00:06:28]Oh, he's special for a reason and you know, he's still young in his career, but I think this kid has arrived now. I I think we're getting past the point of potential. Like we're actually seeing what this kid is going to be right now in the mo in this moment of his career and that's scary because he still has a lot of growth to do. Yeah.

[00:06:46]>> So, uh I mean, I think he's the perfect example of a young player coming in right now. The mentality, uh he cares about winning. It's not about the numbers. He cares about defense.

[00:06:56]Like everything you want in a young franchise player, he's the perfect example of that. So, uh I mean, he's he's that guy for a reason. I mean I mean, the numbers show it, the performance shows it, the presence shows it, the impact shows it.

[00:07:10]He He's the real deal. He He reminds me of a video game when you sort of like you collect powers or weapons as you go and he he feels like he's doing that at a quicker rate than some. Like he takes direction well. If he does something wrong one time, he's like, "Okay, I fixed it and I got and that's to me if I'm not a Spurs fan, probably the scariest part of Wemby.

[00:07:28]He just knows how to play basketball. He knows how to impact the game on on both ends of the floor. And to me last night, it was just a heavyweight bout. We could talk about numbers and stats and percentages and all of that. But for me, the San Antonio Spurs and the OKC Thunder, Both teams were just lost in the game and just trying to make plays.

[00:07:46]Positive, negative, like if you look at the stat sheet, you can make a case, close your eyes, everybody played bad.

[00:07:52]If you want to look at the numbers, everybody played bad, but that's what type of game this was last night. Just tried Except Wembanyama.

[00:07:58]>> [laughter] >> Except Wembanyama. Except Wembanyama.

[00:08:01]Like everybody just tried to make play after play. It didn't matter whether you made a mistake or whether it was a turnover. You didn't have the time to worry about those type of things in this type of game. Every possession mattered and Wembanyama was the head of the snake for both teams.

[00:08:15]Look at what he did. Look at the impact that he made on the paint. SGA literally couldn't get in the paint for almost three quarters.

[00:08:21]>> God, he was frustrated.

[00:08:22]>> game. He was frustrated. He had to adjust. He had to make plays for other guys. I I like the fact that they brought Caruso in this game early because they realized this isn't a series that Hartenstein is probably going to have the impact that he usually has, right? So, let's put a change-up down the line. Caruso was good.

[00:08:38]>> to That's going to be something to look at. But even Even Caruso, the the the success that he had last night, people don't realize he Wembanyama was guarding him in that in that deep in that deep drop. Shay is he's driving the ball, kicking it to Caruso, brush screening Wembanyama so he can't go out there and get blocked shots or or contested and Caruso had had some had some success with that. Like everybody was just making adjustment after adjustment and it all centered around Wembanyama and where he was on the floor.

[00:09:05]>> An elite chess match.

[00:09:06]>> An elite chess match.

[00:09:06]>> I mean, it just it was beyond entertaining. Um I just want to show the pull-up three. Just it was Some Some are literally describing it. This is not me and I'm not being sarcastic.

[00:09:15]>> this was a bad shot. I thought it was a bad shot. I thought it was a bad shot.

[00:09:18]What did you think? Like as soon as he let go, were you like, "That was dumb?"

[00:09:21]Or what what did you think?

[00:09:22]>> "Ooh."

[00:09:23]>> [laughter] >> I said, "Ooh." I thought it was I thought it was game for OKC because, you know, like look at this.

[00:09:28]>> [music] >> I thought that was horrible shot. Yeah, in a in a moment, yeah. In a moment, we thought it was a horrible shot just just understanding how the game goes, but >> I can't.

[00:09:38]>> anything that we've [music] we've learned to be conventional about this game, we got to erase it when it comes when it comes to Wemby. That's a gutsy play, man. Gutsy play, but I was holding my breath.

[00:09:47]>> Play after play after play, both teams they just adjusted to each other and they made it happen. They gave us a double overtime thriller.

[00:09:55]>> Double overtime.

[00:09:55]>> I'm excited for more basketball. I want I want six more of these. Game one.

[00:09:59]>> This feels like This feels like the finals. Yeah. Well, I was going to ask you that. I mean, no offense to the Eastern Conference. You guys Knicks, y'all got some Y'all got some splaining to do because a standard has been set of [laughter] the the style of basketball that we would like to see with these final four teams and these match-ups. Man, what a game. I do think it's funny that there are a lot of folks are like, this is our this is the NBA Finals. And and because also And Lou, you said it yesterday, this is what we wanted from the beginning of the season. This is sort of the whole plan.

[00:10:27]Um This is crazy, by the way, cuz the lacking exper- And I'm not blaming anyone for this narrative, the fact that the Spurs don't have experience. Well, duh. They are the youngest starting lineup in conference finals history, the ripe old age of 22 and 346 days.

[00:10:42]Um I don't know. Normally, Boogie, I'd say, "Oh, this is going to be a real big problem." I've not seen them be rattled yet in any of this. They just seem to be very stoic and chill. If it's a young team, similar to the defending champs right now, is this team. I mean, it's it's almost like twins at birth. Like, when you look at these two teams and how they were formed and how you know, how their franchises kind of started with their their groups, is is identical.

[00:11:09]I can remember OKC's run started. They they were the same way. It wasn't much It wasn't much um experience [snorts] going in, but these guys were never rattled. They showed the same type of poise that this young Spurs group shows.

[00:11:22]I Like I said, it's pretty identical, but when it comes to this Spurs group, um well coached, well well scouted. I mean, they have a history of picking young players that know know the game with high IQ.

[00:11:36]I mean, this is the Spurs history. So, it's continuing to show. And well, experience matters.

[00:11:42]But last night again, the game was so entertaining that a lot of the mistakes were covered up because you didn't have the time to really relish on the fact that I I made a mistake like let's look at Harper. Eight for 20 from from the field, one for seven, but he still was impactful. Castle, 11 turnovers, still was impactful. Champagnie, three for 11 from three, still impactful. Like none of that the the numbers didn't matter last night because everybody played their asses off and they just tried to do whatever it took to get over the hump. So, the experience matters. If you're San Antonio, you have a lot of mistakes that you want to patch up so you don't even put yourself in a position to be in a double overtime thriller with this team. I think San Antonio had a game plan that was good enough to beat OKC last night and to and to win this game in regulation, but because of the experience that OKC has, they still gave themselves opportunity after opportunity to get there and Wemby was just too much for them. So, there were there are some issues that San Antonio need to need to fix in in and work on as as a unit. They got to figure out a way to get Kuminga involved in this game. Same way that OKC needs to get Hartenstein involved in this game as size. But if this is going to be a small ball series, it's going to be tough to sustain this way if these are going to be the numbers.

[00:12:57]>> And you have to credit this Spurs group even more because one of their most experienced guards didn't even play. He didn't even play last night. So, I mean, even with the 11 turnovers from Castle, the fact that he's able to play through it shows the poise and the maturity of this young group.

[00:13:11]>> They were learning on the fly last night.

[00:13:12]>> right.

[00:13:13]>> we're watching them get the experience.

[00:13:14]It's just >> the Exactly. Like whatever the experience that they lack, I think they found it last night. It's happening in >> going to get a They're not going to get a better game one Western Conference Finals experience than what they got last night when it comes to learning and how to figure out things on the fly and to make adjustments on the fly and still be as impactful as these young guys were. So, that conversation that was good yesterday is out the window now.

[00:13:39]The training wheels are off.

[00:13:40]>> By the way, how wired are you cuz I was wired. Like how like I'm ready for another game. Like but do you as players like do you go back to the hotel? How many hours before you fall asleep? Are you exhausted?

[00:13:49]>> You hate it because I was definitely struggling to go to sleep but Yeah, that's a big because you know like man, I was just a part of one of the best games in NBA history and I'm ready to hoop again. If you if you love this game and if you love competing at that level, these guys are dying to get back in that arena and have another opportunity to play. I was wired and I could not fall.

[00:14:08]That was just it was too much fun. Um you mentioned De'Aaron Fox not in and Dylan Harper got the start. Now, I don't know we haven't gotten any word yet on De'Aaron Fox and whether or not he's expected to play in game two. I don't know. It's it's I feel like a good problem for Mitch Johnson to have cuz do you I mean obviously De'Aaron Fox gets the start when he comes back, right? But you also do that knowing all right, Dylan Harper's here and can handle it. Or do you tweak it and let Dylan play again cuz he's got the hot hand?

[00:14:32]>> I think you I think you put Fox back in the starting lineup. You know, like we said, Cason that's not his natural position to run the offense. He has some he has some struggles there but he also has some success as well. He had 11 assists to go with the 11 turnovers but you put Fox back in that lineup because I think he steadies the boat. I think he gives them what they need from a point guard perspective and if you have Dylan Harper coming off the bench, now you know you have a dynamic scorer and you have somebody that can give you that balance in two groups. Like I like I mentioned earlier in the show, the two runs that OKC made in the first half and in the second half, they were with Wemby off of the floor. They were with the second groups on the on the floor. So, if you can insert Dylan Harper into that mix, I think that gives that gives San Antonio a great balance to have to compete against OKC. So, you know, Fox being back in the lineup, you got to give him the respect of having his job back. You don't lose your job to injury.

[00:15:24]And he's going to be just as impactful as Harper, but that gives you two dynamic guards that's that's on the floor at all times. I agree. Um, you know, as great as Dellen Harper played, the the Spurs bench did struggle from him.

[00:15:36]>> Sure. You know, starting this game, but um, you you put uh Fox back in there, you need that veteran presence.

[00:15:42]>> [clears throat] >> Obviously, they struggle with the turnover part, so that's something that, you know, he automatically corrects for that group. And then you also get that scoring punch as well um, with Dellen Harper coming back off the bench. But the great thing is, let's say De'Aaron Fox is, you know, not not 100% himself coming back.

[00:15:58]>> The Harper You still got that threat coming off, and you can still insert him in that in that lineup and play starter minutes. So, it is a great problem for the Spurs to have. But uh, you know, to answer the question, you do bring Fox back into that starting lineup. By the way, the fact that we He's a rookie. Like and it was mentioned a few times in the broadcast last night cuz I it's almost as if we're reminding ourselves. It's not even information.

[00:16:20]Like he's a rookie.

[00:16:22]Again, I go back to that word experience. Like I don't know if this is a case, Boogie, of you don't know what you don't know. Like ignorance is bliss type thing cuz that's that's kind of how I'm describing the Spurs. Like how is he so calm, cool, and collected as a rookie? Like I said, you think about >> first of all.

[00:16:39]>> Well, >> That's fair. Let's start there. It's in his blood. [laughter] >> want to credit the organization. Like I said, this is a group that has shown to pick these type of players over and over and over again from. We can take it back to Timmy D, David Robinson, to a guy like Kawhi, to now this young group.

[00:16:56]I think I think it's credit to the Spurs organization. I think they're going to continue to to to to guide these guys in the right direction. And, you know, the scary part about it is this kid is going to only continue to get better. To be a rookie in this position, he had a heart to go out there and shoot the ball 20 times. That is a That like that's criticized on a lot of teams. For the San Antonio Spurs, I think it's necessary for him to go out there and get those jitters out and just play free. Take the shots that are that you are afforded, attack the rim when you are afforded it, and just live with the results of it. Like again, 8 for 20 if this game go any way any other way, we'll have a different conversation. But I think they needed everything that this young man brought to the table last night. Right. That to me is nuts.

[00:17:37]>> So, this is one of those games where the stats are the stats, but it didn't matter. We I just saw two great teams out there hooping last night trying to make plays. It was like a drug. Like just inject that into our veins for seven of these bad boys. Let's Let's do a little Caruso talking. Before we do, I'd like to apologize to the family of Alex Caruso for all the things I was yelling at my TV last night. He was You were quiet in the chat last night. You didn't You didn't want to want to hang out last night.

[00:18:01]>> be quick. No, everyone who knows me like they're texting during the game. I'm like, "What are you doing? You know I'm not going to respond during the game."

[00:18:06]And I'm sure as hell not Well, that was the That was the first time. You usually do text us.

[00:18:10]>> are now in a different place.

[00:18:11]>> Yeah, we we in a different environment.

[00:18:13]>> world.

[00:18:14]>> [laughter] >> Explain that after the game, listen folks. Yeah, he was at 31 points, eight threes, and it felt like he couldn't miss a three if you paid him. Now, I don't know that you get this version, but also we've seen Caruso in big games show up.

[00:18:27]>> Mr. Chaos.

[00:18:28]>> He is.

[00:18:28]>> I like that name. Man, he is a special dude.

[00:18:30]>> I like that name. You I do too, I think.

[00:18:32]>> Yeah, like I like I said, >> [music] >> Coach Daigneault, great great adjustment by going with Caruso early in this game.

[00:18:39]Recognizing early in this game that, "Hey, Wemby is in this deep drop.

[00:18:43][music] I need somebody to be a threat out there at the three-point line to put some pressure on this team." And Caruso was able to give them that. He made the first two threes of the game. He I think he had the first 12, if I'm if I'm not mistaken. But just him coming in, understanding that Wemby is guarding him now, and he's going to have some space because they're trying to they're trying to create um they're they're not trying to allow SGA lanes to get into the hole, and Wemby's kind of playing free safety there, and understanding the the ability to be able to shoot the ball. I thought he played great on a defensive end. He He tried his best to make it He did.

[00:19:17]difficult for Wembanyama to catch the ball. Was able to get a couple of steals. And probably did the the best job. I mean, he's getting up a foot. And probably did the the best jobs. And And so, he played a great game. But, they got to find a way to get Chet involved in this thing. And Chet got to find a way to get involved. Whether it's going to be on the offensive end, the defensive end, or God forbid both. Yeah, but going into the second half and only having one shot attempt at halftime, like, you just can't have that from one of your one of your All-Star caliber players. I mean, it's hard to, you know, obviously with Chet, he's not in the same position as a Wembanyama who's going to get as many touches, as many shot attempts. But, like you said, defensively, with the ability that he does have, he needs to have a bigger impact on the game. And I think he has to accept that challenge.

[00:20:00]Yes, I think Alex Caruso is a good match-up in certain situations, especially when he's out extended on the perimeter. Yes, I want Caruso with that match-up. But, anything from the free throw line in, that's automatically a Chet or Hornsby match-up. So, like I said earlier, that's something that I would like to see next game where he steps up more to the challenge.

[00:20:20]But, it looked like he tucked his tail, bro. It really did.

[00:20:23]Is he [clears throat] going to untuck it, you think? Is that I would hope, man. It's going to get ugly if not. I would hope so. Yeah, it's He's He's going to have to find a way just to just to put something on the board. And it And again, whether it's Daigneault drawing up the first play for him, or whether it's him posting up or something. Like, if you're not going to guard Wembanyama, then obviously somebody else is guarding you.

[00:20:45]Wembanyama was guarding Caruso. So, who was your match-up? You got to seek out somebody. The same way that that OKC was seeking out match-ups, they got to do the same thing. They got to do the same thing for Chet. And Chet has to want to be in that position to be that type of player. And I just didn't see it last night. I didn't love the fact that he really didn't stand out going into this game knowing that people were going to have a