Victor WembanyamaPlayer·Victor Wembanyama’s workload once again becomes the central storyline of the NBA FinalsCompetition·NBA Finals as the San Antonio SpursTeam·San Antonio Spurs head into a must-win Game 5 with their season on the line and their rotation under the microscope.
Reserve center Luke KornetPlayer·Luke Kornet has been cleared to play after an illness initially left his status in doubt, giving San Antonio a badly needed reinforcement in the frontcourt as it tries to extend the series against the New York KnicksTeam·New York Knicks. Spurs coach Mitch JohnsonCoach·Mitch Johnson confirms before tipoff that Kornet will be available, ending pregame uncertainty over whether Wembanyama would have to shoulder an even heavier minutes burden in an elimination game.
The timing matters. In Game 4, Wembanyama logged 44 minutes in a 107–106 loss in which San Antonio surrendered a 29-point lead and fell behind 3–1 in the series. Johnson later acknowledged that he could have managed those minutes better, while Wembanyama admitted he did not feel as strong down the stretch, scoring just eight points after halftime on 3-of-14 shooting as the Knicks completed a historic comeback.
Across this postseason, Wembanyama has been everything the Spurs need and more, averaging 25.0 points, 11.5 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game and anchoring a run that began with a 62–20 regular season and the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. San Antonio’s path to the Finals has run through the Portland Trail Blazers, Minnesota Timberwolves and defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, but the mileage on its 22-year-old cornerstone has accumulated along the way.
That is why Kornet’s availability, while not a headline-grabber on box scores, carries real significance. The veteran big has played under eight minutes per game in the Finals, but his size and basic rim protection offer Johnson a way to buy pockets of rest for Wembanyama without completely sacrificing paint presence or rebounding.
Behind Kornet, the Spurs’ options are less straightforward. Bigs such as Kelly OlynykPlayer·Kelly Olynyk, Bismack BiyomboPlayer·Bismack Biyombo and Mason PlumleePlayer·Mason Plumlee are available, but the coaching staff views them as a clear drop-off from Kornet in this particular matchup. Johnson has even been prepared to experiment with rookie wing Carter BryantPlayer·Carter Bryant as a small-ball five, a look that prioritises mobility and spacing over traditional size but risks exposing the rim against a Knicks team comfortable attacking downhill.
Layered over these tactical choices is Wembanyama’s recent history with minute management. Earlier in the 2025–26 season, the Spurs placed firm caps on his playing time while he managed a left calf strain and a bone bruise in his left knee. Johnson stated then that there would be no flexibility on those restrictions, even in overtime situations, emphasising long-term health over short-term gain. In Game 4 of the Finals, he broke from that stance in what he later called a calculated risk, stretching Wembanyama past his usual range in pursuit of a pivotal win.
The calculus now becomes even more complicated. Down 3–1, San Antonio no longer has the cushion to preserve its star at the expense of results. Every possession is high leverage, and the temptation to run Wembanyama into the mid-40s in minutes will be strong, especially if the Knicks make another push and force Johnson into tight decisions around timeouts, TV breaks and short stints with bench-heavy lineups.
For the Spurs, the stakes are clear. Wembanyama has already established himself as the league’s standout defensive force, winning unanimous Defensive Player of the Year honours, and his two-way dominance is the foundation of a franchise revival that delivered the club’s first playoff berth since 2019 and first Finals appearance since 2014. But San Antonio also knows its long-term future depends on protecting that investment, not just in June 2026 but for many Junes to come.
Kornet’s return does not solve everything, but it gives Johnson one more credible body to throw at the Knicks’ front line and one more chance to stitch together a rotation that keeps Wembanyama impactful in the fourth quarter rather than exhausted. The question now is not whether the Spurs will lean heavily on their young superstar in Game 5. It is how far they are willing to push him with their season hanging in the balance — and whether their supporting cast can buy him just enough breathing room to keep this Finals alive.
Victor Wembanyama shoots against Knicks defenders during Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals. Credit: PRESSE SPORTS/IMAGO
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