2026 NBA Playoffs: Spurs-Timberwolves Series Tied 1-1 Heading to Game 3
At one point, the French men’s national basketball team prepared for the distinct possibility that they would have three centers on the roster, a depth chart that arguably would have been considered among the most robust center rotations in basketball history: Victor Wembanyama, Rudy Gobert and Joel Embiid.
As it would turn out, however, Embiid chose to dedicate his talents to Team USA, and was given an Olympic gold medal for his efforts – coincidentally, over Wembanyama and Gobert’s France. The duo, consisting of the mentor (Gobert) and mentee (Wembanyama) formed a one-two punch of rim protection and daunting deterrence in the paint. But they could not overcome the supremely talented American roster.
Two years later, this duo will share the court anew in a high-stakes situation, but as adversaries. Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs find themselves facing Gobert’s Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Semifinals. By virtue of their higher seed and regular season performance, the Spurs are the prohibitive favorites. But the Wolves are much more experienced and battle-tested – and if the first game of the series is any indication, the Spurs will have their hands full.
From Brotherhood to Rivalry
The relationship between Rudy Gobert and Victor Wembanyama is a unique blend of mentorship, mutual respect and national pride, bridging two generations of French basketball dominance. Long before Wembanyama became the number one overall pick and a global sensation, Gobert acted as a supportive “big brother” and advisor. Their bond was famously captured years ago in a viral video of a teenage, spindly Wembanyama playing two-on-two against the multi-time Defensive Player of the Year. Even then, Gobert recognized the “alien” potential in his compatriot, often speaking publicly about Victor’s discipline and work ethic, which he has described as unparalleled for a player of his age.
On the court, their connection is defined by the passing of the torch. While Gobert has long been the gold standard for rim protection in the NBA, Wembanyama represents the evolution of that archetype—a player with Gobert’s defensive instincts but paired with guard-like offensive fluidity. Gobert has embraced this evolution with grace, frequently stating he feels like a “proud dad” watching Victor’s rapid ascent. This personal chemistry translates into a terrifying prospect for international opponents; together, they form a “Twin Towers” defensive anchor for the French National Team, combining for a historic level of length and shot-blocking prowess.
Despite their camaraderie, the relationship is sharpened by a healthy competitive edge. As divisional rivals in the Western Conference, their matchups between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the San Antonio Spurs are highly anticipated “master vs. apprentice” battles. Gobert remains a staunch defender of his own legacy, while simultaneously rooting for Wembanyama to shatter every record in his path. Ultimately, their bond is a symbiotic one: Gobert provides the veteran blueprint for navigating the NBA as a French giant, while Wembanyama’s rise validates the defensive philosophy that Gobert has championed throughout his career.
This relationship is reaching a climax during this second-round series, where Wembanyama will strive to surpass his mentor. Gobert is considered one of this generation’s premier defenders; Wembanyama is rapidly overtaking that mantle. While Wembanyama flashed his defensive chops during Game 1, Gobert and the Wolves drew first blood.
Gobert and the Wolves Take the Early Advantage
From a strictly individual perspective, Wembanyama edged Gobert in terms of defensive presence, tallying 12 blocks – a playoff record for a single game (that is, since the league started recording blocks). Gobert did not have as much of an impact as his younger countryman did; as a matter of fact, Gobert spent a majority of his time on the bench in the fourth quarter.
Instead, Wolves head coach Chris Finch favored a lineup that stretched the floor, with Julius Randle and Naz Reid comprising the frontcourt. Their ability to stretch the floor did not allow Wembanyama the luxury of staying low and close to the rim. Whereas he had control of the floor defensively in the first half, the Wolves – utilizing such a configuration – wrested control away from Wembanyama, moving him around and stretching his ability to cover the floor thin.
Additionally, Wembanyama was not up to par offensively. While he finished the game with a triple-double, he managed only 11 points on 5-of-17 shooting from the field, no three-point shots made out of eight attempts and a true shooting percentage of 30.8%. While the Spurs needed every bit of his defensive presence to keep them competitive, his inability to muster offense kept the Wolves competitive themselves, ultimately coming out with the victory.
A huge talking point after Game 1 was the authenticity of some of Wembanyama’s blocks. Head coach Chris Finch emphasized the seemingly illegal nature of some of Wembanyama’s rejections – i.e., that at least four of them should’ve been called for goaltending. Such violations are impossible to avoid for a 7’4” shot-blocking menace, as his mentor Gobert can attest to as a shot-blocker himself.
However, that talking point would prove irrelevant in the following contest, which would turn out to be a much different story.
Wembanyama Strikes Back Against his Mentor
Amid talks of the Wolves and Jaden McDaniels’ approach of acting “like he’s not there,” the Wolves were stifled in Game 2 dropping it to the Spurs 133-95. Clearly, they were still hesitant to attack the rim with abandon against the recently crowned Defensive Player of the Year. While the Wolves were as successful in Game 2 (50.0%, fifth percentile) scoring at the rim as they were in Game 1 (52.9%, 11th percentile), they had a lower rim attempt rate in Game 2 (29%, 38th percentile) than in Game 1 (40.0%, 86th percentile). Wembanyama’s high blocks tally in Game 1 was partly due to the Wolves’ insistence in going at him up close; he finished with only two blocks in Game 2, which is partly due to the Wolves being more reluctant to challenge him directly.
Moreover, Wembanyama had a relatively better offensive showing: 19 points on a true shooting percentage of 58.2%.
Gobert, on the other hand, was largely a non-factor. Finishing with five points on 1-of-4 shooting from the field, he was largely taken out of the game on both ends of the floor. Additionally, the aforementioned Randle-Reid frontcourt lineup wasn’t able to make a dent in Game 2.
The French Civil War Rages On
Victor Wembanyama had some wise words to share after Game 2, imparted upon him and his Spurs teammates by the one and only Gregg Popovich.
“We’re going to watch film because, as Pop says, when you win you’re never as good as you thought you were, and when you lose you’re rarely as bad. So obviously, stay humble and keep working.”
Meanwhile, Gobert and the Wolves are back to the drawing board, but this time they will regroup at home in the Target Center. While the Wolves are more than just their superstar in Anthony Edwards, they are currently fighting a war of attrition. Edwards is playing through a lingering bone bruise in his left knee, and while he suited up for Game 2, he lacked the explosive burst that typically fuels their transition attack as well as his own dynamic scoring. With Donte DiVincenzo sidelined, the offensive burden falls heavily on Julius Randle, who struggled against the Spurs’ length in the last outing.
Gobert himself – currently in the middle of a playoff run that has apparently improved his standing among the larger NBA fanbase – may need to do more, especially on the offensive end. That is a tall task against the man who is trying to supplant his place as not only the preeminent French basketball player in the NBA, but the preeminent rim-protecting big in the league.
If the Timberwolves (+275) can’t rediscover their defensive identity at home and find a consistent secondary scorer to help a hobbled Edwards (Jaden McDaniels has been expected to fill that role, although the sustainability of that approach may come into question), the Spurs (-350) might just run them out of the gym. Expect a dogfight at Target Center as Minnesota tries to prove that Game 2 was an anomaly, not the new reality.
And expect Wembanyama and Gobert to set aside their personal relationship for another chapter in the battle between teacher and student.
Joe Viray is a Lucky Rebel NBA guest writer who actually watches the tape. He covers the Warriors for Golden State of Mind and the wider league for SBNation. Follow him at @JoeVirayNBA