Victor Wembanyama's 'ethical basketball' comments, explained: Why Spurs star took shot at SGA, Thunder

Victor Wembanyama's 'ethical basketball' comments, explained: Why Spurs star took shot at SGA, Thunder originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs are a budding rivalry in the NBA, highlighted by them being the two best teams in the NBA this season.

At the center of the rivalry is Victor Wembanyama, who is not only one of the best players in the league but has also taken shots at the Thunder in his career. While Oklahoma City was building on two dominant seasons since the start of the 2024-25 year, Wembanyama and the Spurs appeared to be the Thunder's kryptonite. The Spurs went 4-1 against the Thunder in the 2025-26 season, handing Oklahoma City four of the team's 18 losses this season.

That included one game at a neutral site, as they played in the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas, Nevada, along with three games in 12 days, all Spurs wins, concluding with a Christmas Day matchup. In the process, Wembanyama criticized the way the Thunder play basketball without specifically naming the team, arguing San Antonio plays "ethical basketball. " Here's a breakdown of what Wembanyama said earlier this year.

NBA PLAYOFFS HQ: Live NBA scores | NBA playoff schedule | NBA playoff bracket Victor Wembanyama's 'ethical basketball' comments Earlier in the 2025-26 season, Wembanyama seemed to take a shot at the Thunder's basketball style by praising the way the Spurs approach winning. The Spurs had just beaten the Thunder in the NBA Cup semifinals, handing Oklahoma City their second loss of the year just 26 games in, and Wembanyama was very confident with the way San Antonio played. "I'm just glad to be a part of something that's growing to be so beautiful," he said.