I’m not saying I knew this series would go to a Game 7. But when our fearless leader, J.R. Wilco, asked me to quit submitting “The Adventures of Wembanyama and Grogu” fan fiction graphic novels to publish because this is an exclusively Spurs community site, I begrudgingly and enthusiastically volunteered to sign up for Game 7 highlights.
And boy, were there highlights to be had! Victor Wembanyama scored a team-high 22 points along with 7 rebounds while Julian Champagnie uncorked 20 points on 6 – 10
shooting from downtown. It was truly a team effort as all five starters scored in the double digits, and Dylan Harper and Keldon Johnson got in on the action off the bench, scoring 12 and 11, respectively.
Emotional players play emotionally. If anyone thought Wembanyama wouldn’t come out angry, aggressive, angrily aggressively angry, then what team have you been watching? Sure, he almost fouled out of the game, but we can’t blame that on emotions. Blame it on the eternal battle between the two neighboring states’ powerhouse gas stations: Love’s and Buc-ees. One’s a nice, convenient gas station whenever you need one and the other is a roadside Texas-wrapped beef jerky haven, brisket brimming, peanut brittle laden, coven of kolaches, disguised as a refueling station. If Darth Vader loved clean restrooms and mascot beavers, he’d probably have a Buc-ees set up every 0.00000000000000324 parsecs on the Death Star. And Buc-ees would have a billboard anchored to every other asteroid floating through space: “Just 100 more light years until the next Buc-ees!”
The beaver won this round. But it’s going to be a bloody battle for years to come.
This, like it’s been all season, is a Julian Champagnie appreciation post. He showed up for every single game (literally) this season for the Spurs and put in a very agrarian consistency that was often appreciated but sometimes overlooked. It’s no surprise then to see that when the moment shined brightest, Champagnie did not shy away and helped his team punch their ticket to the big dance.
99.99% sure Mitch Johnson decided to slow roll the number two overall pick throughout his rookie season just to unleash him in the Western Conference Finals. Haven’t seen a rookie with this level of maturity to his game since Stephon Castle, which was like ages ago—last season to be exact. Do I sound giddy? My family, friends, and group chats have anticipated my giddiness by preempting any celebration on my part with, “at least you don’t live in San Antonio anymore so we don’t have to watch for your name to come up on the local news for all the wrong reasons.”
They’re no fun.
De’Aaron Fox’s game is so smooth. Even on a balky ankle, he is able to glide anywhere on the court and get his own shot or set up his teammates. Friends and strangers alike on the internet are already declaring the Spurs will trade Fox next season, and I say to that don’t talk to me about salaries, cap space, and roster construction. I’m just a lowly pretend caveman lawyer (RIP Phil Hartman) who’s unfamiliar with your fancy lingo and advanced analytics or whatever internet speed faster than dial-up is these days. All I know is, Fox has been everything and more ever since he became a Spur.
Two-way point guards who can find their own shot, be a team’s closer when needed, run a professional NBA offense, all while sacrificing their own stats do not come along so often—just like opportunities to win an NBA title, these things are rare for a reason.
We rock the party that rocks the rim.
Fox serving up floaters and fond, familiar flashbacks of Tony Parker floating in the lane for a floater. Here’s hoping 3 full days of rest will get that ankle right so we can see number 4 at full strength for the Finals.
Keldon Johnson’s one-man run in the fourth quarter to help sustain the Spurs’ lead gave me endless joy. A lot of chatter (understandably so) surrounded KJ’s play in this series on the heels of his Sixth Man award. Let’s not forget that these awards are regular season awards, and that it’s a long season. The Sixth Man embodies team before self, instant energy off the bench, reliability, depth for support, and leadership when the team needs it most.
When the Thunder threatened and showed why you cannot count the defending champs out, Johnson rolled right in and showed up for his team.
This Luke Kornet chase down block is better than LeBron James’s chase down block in the Finals against the Golden State Warriors.
I will not elaborate, but I can offer you seven indelible words: “Because it’s Luke (expletive) Kornet!”
I mean dude only played 6 minutes in this game, but he had one emphatic block so shocking that it made the Salesian Sisters question whether they were watching Luke Kornet or The Gospel According to Luke.
What is this, an MVP trophy for ants? Oh it’ just his humongous mitts.
What a team.
Anyone who’s anyone who’s watched Cowboy Bebop naturally knows that corgis never lie.
If you missed the game because you were too busy wreaking (good, clean, fun) havoc in downtown San Antonio, here are the full-game highlights:
Next up, the Spurs host their first NBA Finals game since 2014! They are playing against none other than the New York Knickerbockers, who are in their first NBA Finals since 1999—against none other than our Spurs. Catch Game 1 on Wednesday, June 3, 2026.
