The Ben Maller Show
The Ben Maller Show

Jun 1, 2026 · 51 min

Wembanyama transforms Spurs as Thunder’s dynasty collapses

Hour 1 - Spurs Ahead Of Schedule?

San Antonio’s Finals run raises a sharper question than timing: whether Victor Wembanyama has already remade the franchise.

3 key takeaways
  1. 1Chet Holmgren’s four-point Game 7 performance becomes the clearest target of criticism in Oklahoma City’s collapse.
  2. 2Ben Maller argues the Thunder’s supposed dynasty was only a brief championship window, not the start of a lasting era.
  3. 3Victor Wembanyama’s arrival has changed the Spurs immediately, making their Finals appearance more transformation than timetable surprise.

Don't miss

Maller’s sharpest argument comes when he treats Victor Wembanyama’s arrival as an immediate Spurs transformation, not merely an ahead-of-schedule breakthrough.

The brief

San Antonio’s Game 7 win over Oklahoma City sends the Spurs to the NBA Finals and leaves Ben Maller questioning whether the Thunder’s dynasty ever truly began.

Maller puts the spotlight on Chet Holmgren’s four-point performance, arguing that his late-series failures against Victor Wembanyama deserve direct criticism.

The larger claim is that Oklahoma City’s championship run was short-lived, while Wembanyama has transformed San Antonio immediately rather than merely accelerating its timetable.

The basketball debate expands to LeBron James, the Lakers, Austin Reaves, and listener reactions before the hour turns to Malapalooza, donuts, and Wembanyama’s height.

The hour closes with the Who Am I game, more listener messages, and a Dodgers highlight featuring Max Muncy as the Tire Rack Play of the Day.

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