The Athletic NBA Daily — “Wemby Beats Thunder | NBA Cup INSTANT REACTION”

Date: December 14, 2025
Hosts: Dave DuFour, Zena Keda, Esfandiar Baraheni (Es), Andrew Schlecht, Josh Robbins
Main Game: Spurs defeat Thunder in NBA Cup semifinal
Other Games Discussed: Knicks vs. Magic

Episode Overview

This episode delivers an instant reaction to the Emirates NBA Cup semifinal in Las Vegas, focusing primarily on Victor Wembanyama’s triumphant return and the Spurs’ upset of the Oklahoma City Thunder. The hosts break down the dynamics of the biggest game of the night—the highly anticipated Spurs vs. Thunder clash—along with rapid recaps and analysis of the Knicks’ high-powered win over the Magic. There are deep dives into team culture, the strategic development of young rosters, the problem with late-game fouling, and a lively back-and-forth on how far the Spurs and Thunder might go in the playoffs.

Spurs vs. Thunder: Wemby Returns, Spurs Stun Thunder

Victor Wembanyama's Impact

• Victor Wembanyama came off the bench for the Spurs in his return, instantly making his presence felt:
  • “First 36 seconds or so, he has two offensive rebounds, a defensive rebound, a put back and an assist. And you’re just saying, ‘Okay, well that guy has solved basketball again.’” (Dave, 07:52)
• Wemby’s on-court and off-court maturity recognized:
  • “I might be in love with Victor Wembanyama... the guy has perfect answers in this press conference.” (Dave, 06:48)
  • “How nice it is to be on a team like the Spurs that plays ethical hoops. And I can’t help but think that’s a shot at the Thunder.” (Dave, 06:50)

Thunder’s Letdown and Spurs’ Toughness

• OKC blew a big lead and struggled with execution and physicality:
  • “They felt like after they got that big lead... defensively, they didn’t execute well enough, they weren’t physical. I mean, I think they got punched in the mouth.” (Andrew, 04:05)
• Spurs’ guard rotation and defense stood out:
  • “I don’t think I’ve ever seen Shai (SGA) get blocked the way he was by Devin Vassell in the mid range. It was clean. It was great.” (Zena, 05:20)
• Physicality on both sides elevated the rivalry:
  • “Stefan Castle, like, he got literally, literally got end of the game, nose plugged up, bloody lip. Like it was a battle out here.” (Zena, 06:16)

Spurs’ Emerging Identity

• The Spurs played 12 games without Wemby and went 9–3, finding a broader identity and getting big steps forward from several players:
  • “Steph Castle getting to the rim. The Aaron Fox getting to the rim. Hit ahead passes have been huge for them. Running in transition, being physical.” (Es, 08:34)
• “This team is finding an identity without Wemby.” (Es, 09:01)

Notable Segment

• Wemby’s press conference highlight (06:50–07:26):
  • Responding about playing the Thunder: “It’s just great to be back, but it’s also good to be playing pure ethical basketball.”
  • Hosts joke this was a little dig at OKC, and marvel at Wemby’s perspective and communication skills.

Strategic and Emotional Turning Points

OKC’s Fatigue and Killer Schedule

• OKC is not “tournament tough” yet and is feeling the grind:
  • “There’s got to be a little bit of a fatigue factor here... teams are ready for them.” (Dave, 04:20)

Spurs Bench Steps Up

• The Spurs’ depth showcased development, with four players scoring 20+ points:
  • “If you were to place a bet, perhaps with our betting partners, BetMGM... about if a team is going to have four players with 20 points or more, you’d definitely have picked the Thunder. But that’s part of what San Antonio’s done the last couple of weeks.” (Dave & Es, 17:45–17:53)

Defensive Adjustments and Physical Rivalry

• Emergence of a Western Conference rivalry:
  • “This is the rivalry, and I think that when you look at the Spurs and you listen to Victor Wembanyama in the postgame... The Thunder are where this Spurs team wants to be.” (Dave & Es, 06:35–07:02)

Key Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Wemby’s Postgame on Spurs Style:
  “It’s just great to be back, but it’s also good to be playing pure ethical basketball that is intended.” (Wemby via Dave, 07:03)

• On the Excitement of the Matchup:
  “This team could make the finals...I’m not putting anything out of the realm of possibility for Victor Wembanyama.” (Dave, 19:49)

• On OKC’s Need for Improvement:
  “This is good for the Thunder to taste their own blood at this point in the season.” (Andrew, 18:27)

• On the Problem with Late-Game Fouling:
  “I’m tired of watching games come down to a free throw contest... the league has to do something because the watchability is awful.” (Dave, 14:08)

Tactical and Roster Talk

OKC: What Went Wrong

• Jalen Williams’ struggles:
  “His wrist is still obviously bothering him; his handle, finishing, shooting...he’s hurting still.” (Andrew, 13:07)
• “They have a little bit of time off...they get to like taste the sting of a loss for several days, which I think is really good competitively for a team like this.” (Andrew, 18:59)

Spurs: Building for the Future

• Depth and Versatility: The “Slash Brothers” (Stephon Castle, De’Aaron Fox, Devin Vassell, Dylan Harper) finally all healthy in a game for the first time. (12:29–12:31)
• On Defensive Growth and Bench Physicality:
  • “Luke Kornet... when you have Victor still working on getting his breath back out on the floor, having him out there and not being a complete open door to the basket is huge.” (Zena, 24:44)
• Spurs’ front office credited for building with “double big lineups” and “extra ball-handling.” (Es, 24:18–24:33)
• The biggest team need: “Other than experience, they’ve got to shoot the ball really well come playoff time.” (Dave, 24:48)

Big-Picture Discussion: Rivalries, Playoff Ceilings, and Culture

Will the Spurs and Thunder Rule the West?

• “This rivalry is what we’re going to see for the Western Conference for the next five years.” (Es & Dave, 22:53)
• On playoff potential:
  • “Second round?” (Zena, 19:43)
  • “This team could make the finals.” (Dave, 19:49)
  • “Nothing’s out of the realm of possibility for Victor Wembanyama.” (Dave, 19:57)
• But, “The playoffs are so different... Right now, the Spurs probably feel like they’ve got 11 or 12 guys. When you get to the playoffs, it doesn’t matter what your roster is—you’ve got seven.” (Andrew, 21:02)

OKC & Spurs: Mirror Images

• Both organizations lauded for their cultures, humility, and team-centric messaging:
  • “These teams are like mirrors to each other... they’re both culturally a match.” (Zena, 49:47)
• “The Thunder front office was kind of birthed from the Spurs. When they’re modeling their team, they modeled it after the Spurs, right down to the way the media is handled.” (Dave, 50:01)

Are “Superteams” Built or Born?

• “The Spurs are who they are because they won two lotteries... Robinson, Duncan... and now the third tremendous lottery win, Steph Castle.” (Josh, 51:04)
• “Oklahoma City has built itself less through luck and more through being opportunistic.” (Josh, 51:36)

Knicks vs. Magic: Recap & Rapid Reaction

• Knicks beat Magic 132–120, with Jalen Brunson scoring 40.
• Jalen Suggs’s injury and absence of Franz Wagner left Orlando shorthanded defensively.
  • “Suggs was able to get out in transition. That was where they had their best success offensively...” (Dave, 37:14)
  • “Orlando, it’s not at its best when it plays in the half court, missing one and a half of its best defenders.” (Josh, 40:59)
• Knicks’ rising offensive firepower highlighted; hosts are bullish on Knicks as Eastern Conference favorites:
  • “I think they are the best team in the East.” (Josh, 38:45)

“Memorable Moments” & Humor

• “Through Wemby, all things are possible. Maybe on a basketball court.” (Zena, 20:54)
• Flex Seal joke: “He’s like that one Duct Tape meme... flex seal.” (Es, 40:16)
• Euro house party story:
  • “At this house party, people discussing socialism...and then also playing beer pong with cups you get to like mouthwash at the dentist.” (Zena, 42:42–43:18)

Key Timestamps

• Spurs-Thunder discussion begins: 02:52
• Wemby postgame & “ethical hoops” comments: 06:48–07:26
• Late-game fouling/esoteric strategy debate: 14:07–17:16
• Spurs ceiling/playoff talk: 19:36–21:32
• Cultural similarities between Spurs & Thunder: 49:19–50:54
• Knicks–Magic recap: 33:14–41:11

Final Thoughts

• The Spurs–Thunder game in Vegas felt like the birth of a new Western Conference rivalry. Wembanyama’s return was the story—on the court, in the press room, and in the larger narrative about the NBA’s evolution.
• Both organizations are being lauded for their culture and process, with OKC modeling itself after the Spurs’ model, but the “luck versus opportunism” debate will continue.
• The end-of-game fouling issue is called out as a critical “watchability” problem for the league’s future.
• Knicks are emerging as a serious Eastern Conference threat.
• The move away from neutral Vegas sites to home courts for future NBA Cup semifinals is seen as a welcome change for atmosphere and competitive edge.

For fans eager to understand the storylines, tactics, personalities, and culture shaping the NBA right now, this episode is a must-listen for the birth of a rivalry and the rise of a superstar.