Though the OKC Thunder have been bounced from the 2025-26 postseason, fans can only hope that they are taking notes on the NBA Finals.
If so, they may have just learned a valuable lesson before decisions have to be made this offseason.
Victor Wembanyama, who presumably stands to be OKC's biggest obstacle to return to the Finals for the foreseeable future, was completely nullified in the Spurs' Game 1 defeat.
It appeared the New York Knicks may have just exposed the weakness of the 7'5" anomale: in a battle between length and size, size wins, as long as there is a lot of it.
All game, Knicks' coach Mike Brown unleashed a lethal combination of Karl-Anthony Towns and backup big man Mitchell Robinson, which led to a dismal 6-21 shooting night for Wemby.
If it weren't for 13 free throws, the third-year center would've been a complete non-factor.
Towns and Robinson combine to weigh a whopping 448 pounds, and they both clock in at 7 feet tall. They make an impressive duo, and Towns isn't even considered to be an upper-echelon defender by most.
Nevertheless, the two played bully ball all night. On numerous occasions, Wembanyama attempted to match the physicality, only to be sent flailing in the opposite direction after running into a blue-and-orange brick wall.
Thunder must acquire more physicality before next season
The Thunder have proven they are arguably the most technically sound team in the league. From play design to defensive buy-in to offensive schematics, they have been the epitome of consistency and discipline.
However, the series against San Antonio proved that they lack the necessary physicality down around the rim.
In a way, Isaiah Hartenstein's elite defense on Wemby further emphasized the weakness. Any time Hart wasn't directly on the Frenchman, the Thunder found themselves completely defenseless, and it opened up San Antonio's entire offense.
Aside from Hartenstein, OKC's other two options down low simply didn't have enough mass to get the job done.
It's no secret that Chet Holmgren needs to gain weight before next year, but his listed weight of 208 pounds on ESPN even feels far-fetched.
Jaylin Williams, though 240 pounds, is a severely undersized center at 6'9" and simply couldn't overcome such an unfair height disadvantage.
It's clear that, because of this harsh reality, retaining Hartenstein seems like a top priority this offseason, but general manager Sam Presti would be foolish to stop there.
Whether it's drafting another big body like Aday Mara or putting faith in last year's lottery pick, Thomas Sorber, to get the job done, adding one more big body to the rotation is a necessary move before the Thunder begin their quest for a second title in three years.
With the Spurs looking like a team to beat in the Western Conference for years to come, such a move wouldn't just be an emotional reaction to a small sample size. It would be a logical solution to an immediate and chronic problem.
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