By Sam Amick | The Athletic, 2026-05-22 09:30:34
《The Athletic》正在为您实时报道2026年NBA东部决赛尼克斯对阵骑士的第三场较量。
试想一下，如果你是一名NBA球队管理层高管，正在观看本届西部决赛。
你看着维克托·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama)——这位身高2米24、现年22岁，在几年前降临圣安东尼奥的篮球“外星人”——正在以一种前所未见的方式，统治着与历史级强队、卫冕冠军俄克拉荷马雷霆的系列赛。而当你审视自家那套如今看起来简陋得令人沮丧的阵容时，不禁会想：在未来的十多年里，自己的球队究竟该如何应对这个恐怖的天才？
最近，整个联盟都在讨论这个话题。
文班亚马在这轮系列赛初期的惊人表现（目前双方战成1-1平，第三场将于周五在圣安东尼奥打响）只是印证了大多数人早已心知肚明的事实：他是一位划时代的攻防一体超级巨星，其超群的实力和独特性正在改变各支球队的建队方式。对于他的对手来说，唯一的希望——或者说祈祷——是能以某种方式收集到足够多（无论身材高矮）拥有特定技能包的球员，从而让自己有一丝机会去遏制他的超能力。
“世上总会有能克制他的‘氪石’，”一位西部联盟的总经理这样说道。
无论接下来发生什么，文班亚马的到来所带来的更宏观的问题，就像他那8英尺（约2.44米）的臂展一样无法规避。这是否意味着各支球队会突然开始囤积运动能力出色、强壮的内线大个子，就像以前为了对抗威尔特·张伯伦 (Wilt Chamberlain)、比尔·拉塞尔 (Bill Russell)、卡里姆·阿卜杜尔-贾巴尔 (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)、哈基姆·奥拉朱旺 (Hakeem Olajuwon) 或沙奎尔·奥尼尔 (Shaquille O’Neal) 等内线神兽时那样？或者，鉴于文班亚马具备像后卫一样打球的能力，你是否会去追逐那些极其罕见、兼具身材、速度和力量的锋线球员，以限制他在场上无处不在的威胁？
而且，随着今夏关于扬尼斯·阿德托昆博 (Giannis Antetokounmpo) 的争夺战已成为头条新闻，各支球队是否会为了应对“文班效应”，而展现出更强烈的意愿去全力追求这位密尔沃基雄鹿的当家球星？
带着这些问题，本周我与几位资深高管探讨了这一切所带来的影响——其中两位来自西部，一位来自东部。为了让他们尽可能畅所欲言，《The Athletic》对他们进行了匿名采访。虽然他们显然也没有标准答案，但有一点是肯定的：处于他们这个职位的人，在未来很长一段时间内都会继续寻找答案。
“各支球队绝对必须开始琢磨：‘我们该如何跨越这家伙？’”这位东部联盟的高管表示，“所以当你审视局势时，会想：‘我们需要什么？我们该如何建队，才能更好地与（文班亚马和马刺队）竞争？’
“相信我，每个人都在考虑这件事。各支球队会努力寻找构建阵容的方法来击败马刺，就像他们为了击败雷霆所做的那样。”
首先，在决定阵容构建方向之前，球队必须先确定哪种比赛策略对防守文班最有效。正如我们在这轮系列赛中目前所看到的，这仍然是一个悬而未决的辩题。
雷霆在第一场比赛中采取了“小而精”的策略，在当晚的大部分时间里，用身高1米96、体重84公斤的亚历克斯·卡鲁索 (Alex Caruso) 和身高1米96、体重95公斤的杰伦·威廉姆斯 (Jalen Williams) 去对位体重107公斤的文班亚马。雷霆大个子切特·霍姆格伦 (Chet Holmgren)（身高2米16，体重94公斤）也花了一些时间防守他的宿敌，但在那场马刺以122-115双加时获胜的比赛中，文班亚马全程随心所欲。根据Stathead.com的数据，文班亚马是联盟历史上仅有的第五位单场砍下至少41分、24个篮板和3次盖帽（常规赛或季后赛）的球员，加入了张伯伦（曾12次做到）、奥拉朱旺（2次）、帕特里克·尤因 (Patrick Ewing)（1次）以及乔·巴里·卡罗尔 (Joe Barry Carroll)（1次）的行列。
但在雷霆以113-112险胜的第二场比赛中，雷霆主帅马克·戴格诺特 (Mark Daigneault) 及其教练组改变了策略，让大个子以赛亚·哈尔滕施泰因 (Isaiah Hartenstein)（身高2米13，体重113公斤）承担了防守文班亚马的大部分职责，并让杰林·威廉姆斯 (Jaylin Williams)（身高2米06，体重108公斤）和卢·多尔特 (Lu Dort)（身高1米93，体重99公斤）等人偶尔客串。文班亚马在这场比赛中最终得到21分、17个篮板、6次助攻和4次盖帽。虽然他的影响力确实比系列赛揭幕战有所减弱，但他依然是一个极难解决的麻烦。
“能让他打得挣扎的球员画像或防守体系是什么样的？”这位西部总经理反问道，“他总有可以被针对的弱点，而他的弱点就是力量。虽然他现在的力量比三年前刚进联盟时要好，但（依然是个短板）。雷霆让卡鲁索和多尔特去防他，我能理解这种思路。但他们实在太矮了。可话又说回来，你那些2米15、2米18的大个子也对不上位。我认为你需要找一个身高在2米03到2米08之间、身体强壮且运动能力出色的球员。他们必须足够强壮，能找身体对抗，把他顶出低位，同时还要足够快，能防住他的面筐突破。但这样的答案并不是现成的。”
如果马刺晋级，他们可能会面对他们在NBA Cup（季中锦标赛）决赛中的对手纽约尼克斯。 (Ethan Miller / Getty Images)
然而讽刺的是：如果马刺能够跨越雷霆，他们可能会在总决赛中与一支在五个月前的高规格“文班亚马测试”中表现极其出色的球队重逢：纽约尼克斯。在12月中旬的NBA Cup半决赛中，马刺淘汰了雷霆，但在冠军争夺战中以113-124不敌尼克斯。在那场比赛中，文班亚马仅得到18分、6个篮板、1次助攻和1次盖帽，正负值为全场最低的-18。
执教首年的尼克斯主帅迈克·布朗 (Mike Brown) 运筹帷幄，让米切尔·罗宾逊 (Mitchell Robinson)（身高2米13，体重108公斤）和卡尔-安东尼·唐斯 (Karl-Anthony Towns)（身高2米13，体重112公斤）轮番防守，同时让OG·阿奴诺比 (OG Anunoby)（身高2米01，体重108公斤）在侧翼扮演破坏者的角色。虽然文班亚马在本赛季对阵尼克斯的其他两场比赛中表现更好（两队平分秋色），但那场NBA Cup决赛是目前最接近防守他的“教科书模板”的比赛。正如那位东部高管所指出的，已经有其他球队在争相收集这类拥有多样化技能包的球员，想必也是希望能以此延缓文班亚马的脚步。
“看看犹他爵士在（2月份交易截止日）所做的操作，他们（通过与灰熊的交易）引进了杰伦·杰克逊 (Jaren Jackson)（身高2米08、体重109公斤的护筐中锋），”该高管表示，“现在你有了他和劳里·马尔卡宁 (Lauri Markkanen)（身高2米16，体重108公斤的前锋），而且沃克·凯斯勒 (Walker Kessler)（身高2米18，体重111公斤的中锋）也有可能回归（他今夏是受限制自由球员）。这就像是他们正在为未来可预见的时期内将要面对（这支马刺队）的现实做准备，他们需要身材高大、运动能力强且防守至上的球员来对抗文班。”
“你也会在选秀中看到这一点，来自密歇根的那个孩子（阿代·马拉 (Aday Mara)，身高2米21、体重117公斤的中锋）顺位会非常靠前，因为他拥有出色的身材、敏捷的身手，而且防守相当不错。”
至于有观点认为，由于文班亚马的强势表现，雄鹿可能会在交易阿德托昆博时迎来更广阔的市场，三位高管都一致认为这是一个合乎逻辑的结论。这位身高2米11、体重110公斤的“希腊怪兽 (Greek Freak)”依然拥有联盟最顶级的身体素质，并能通过极具侵略性的打法和运动能力将其发挥到极致，同时他还具备了防守端必不可少的内外兼顾的能力。
“是的，扬尼斯在对位上是解决文班难题的一个方案，所以我完全可以预见，各支球队在讨论交易得到他时，会把这一点考虑进去，”其中一位西部高管说道。
当文班亚马在对阵雷霆的系列赛揭幕战中打出他迄今为止最令人难忘的一场比赛时，我曾将那种观赛体验（假设性地）比作“同时在看张伯伦和拉塞尔打球”。但话又说回来，考虑到他当时刚刚投中了一个距离超过32英尺（约9.75米）的超远三分球强行拖入第二个加时，这种比较似乎又说不通。所以……这是斯蒂芬·库里 (Steph Curry) 遇上了张伯伦，再叠加上拉塞尔？
我们都同意，任何对比都是徒劳的。
“他只要一过半场就是个无解的难题，根本没有像他这样的人，”其中一位西部高管笑着说，“至少奥尼尔还算是个‘人类’，因为你只需要找三个中锋去跟他肉搏就行。你手握18次犯规（可供消耗）。也许其中一个是技术型的，另外两个能顶住他，让主力球员得到休息。但根本没有像（文班亚马）这样的模板——历史上从未有过这样的球员。这是一个无解的难题，而且在未来的15年里都将是一个难题。”
由生成式 AI 翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
点击查看原文：Is Giannis the only answer for Victor Wembanyama? Some NBA execs think so
Is Giannis the only answer for Victor Wembanyama? Some NBA execs think so
The Athletic has live coverage of Knicks vs. Cavaliers in Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Eastern Conference Finals.
Imagine being an NBA front office executive watching these Western Conference finals.
You see Victor Wembanyama, the 7-foot-4, 22-year-old basketball alien who descended upon San Antonio just a few short years ago, dominating in the kind of way we’ve never seen against the historically great, reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder. And you wonder, while scanning a roster that now seems so depressingly ill-equipped, how your team is supposed to deal with this terrifying talent for the next decade (plus) to come.
That conversation is happening all around the league of late.
Wembanyama’s early exploits in this series (tied 1-1, with Game 3 in San Antonio on Friday) merely confirm what was already known by most: He is the kind of generational two-way player who is so elite, and so unique, that he is changing the way teams are built. The hope for his foes — the prayer, really — is that you can somehow land enough players (big and small) with the sort of skillsets that give you a puncher’s chance at stopping his superpowers.
“There’s kryptonite out there somewhere,” as one Western Conference general manager put it.
No matter what comes next, the bigger-picture issues that come with Wembanyama’s arrival are as unavoidable as his eight-foot wingspan. Does that mean teams will suddenly load up on athletic, strong big men, like they did in the old days while trying to counter the likes of Wilt, Russell, Kareem, Hakeem or Shaq down low? Or, given Wembanyama’s ability to play like a guard, do you chase those rare wings who have the right combination of size, speed and strength to mitigate what he does all over the floor?
And with the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes already headlining this summer, is there a chance teams might be even more willing to make a run at the Milwaukee star as a way of countering the Wemby effect?
With those sorts of questions in mind, I discussed the impact of it all with a few veteran executives this week — two from the Western Conference and one from the East. They were granted anonymity by The Athletic as a way of inspiring as much candor as possible. And while they certainly didn’t have the answers, this much was clear: The people in their positions will search for them for a long time to come.
“Teams will definitely have to start figuring out, ‘How do we get through this guy?’” the Eastern Conference executive said. “So you look at it, and it’s like, ‘What do we need? How do we build our team to get better to compete against (Wembanyama and the Spurs)?’
“Trust me, it’s on everybody’s mind. Teams will try to find ways that they can build a roster out to beat the Spurs, just like they are to beat OKC.”
First things first, teams must decide what sort of gameplan works best against Wemby before they decide what direction to take with their rosters. That, as we’ve seen so far in this series, remains an open debate.
The Thunder took the small-but-mighty approach in Game 1, using Alex Caruso (6-5, 186 pounds) and Jalen Williams (6-5, 211) on the 236-pound Wembanyama for much of the night. Thunder big man Chet Holmgren (7-1, 208) spent some time guarding his rival, but Wembanyama had his way throughout the 122-115 double-overtime win. According to Stathead.com, Wembanyama was just the fifth player in league history to have at least 41 points, 24 rebounds and three blocks (regular season or playoffs), joining Chamberlain (who did it 12 times), Olajuwon (twice), Patrick Ewing (once) and Joe Barry Carroll (once).
But Thunder coach Mark Daigneault and his staff switched it up in Oklahoma City’s 112-113 Game 2 win, putting big man Isaiah Hartenstein (seven feet, 249 pounds) on Wembanyama for the lion’s share of the defensive duties, with cameos from the likes of Jaylin Williams (6-9, 240) and Lu Dort (6-4, 220). Wembanyama, in turn, finished with 21 points, 17 rebounds, six assists and four blocks. His impact was certainly lessened from the series opener, but he was still a serious problem.
“What’s the profile of a player, or the profile of a defense, that he struggles with?” the Western Conference GM said rhetorically. “There’s always an area you can attack, (and) his is the strength factor. It’s better now than when he came into the league three years ago, but (still a weakness). And with OKC playing Caruso and Dort (on him), I get the thought process. But they’re just too small. Then again, your 7-1, 7-2 guys aren’t able to match up. I think you need to find someone in the 6-8, 6-10 range who’s strong and athletic. They have to be strong enough to get into his body, to force him off the block, but quick enough to keep him in front. But the answers aren’t readily available.”
If the Spurs advance, they could face their NBA Cup Final foe, the New York Knicks. (Ethan Miller / Getty Images)
Yet herein lies the irony: If the Spurs are able to get past the Thunder, they could be headed for a rematch in the NBA Finals against a team that did very well in a high-stakes Wembanyama test five months ago: The New York Knicks. After the Spurs eliminated the Thunder in the NBA Cup semifinal in mid-December, they fell 124-113 to the Knicks in the championship game, during which Wembanyama had just 18 points, six rebounds, one assist, one block and a game-worst minus-18 mark.
The Knicks, with first-year coach Mike Brown pulling the strings, had Mitchell Robinson (7-0, 240) and Karl-Anthony Towns (7-0, 248) share the assignment, while OG Anunoby (6-7, 240) played the part of disruptor on the wings. Wembanyama had better luck in his other two outings against the Knicks this season (the teams split those games), but that Cup finale was the closest you’ll find to a blueprint performance against him. As the Eastern Conference executive pointed out, there are already other teams rushing to collect that sort of skillset variety with, presumably, the hopes of slowing Wembanyama.
“Look at what Utah did at (the February trade deadline), adding (6-10, 242-pound rim-protecting center) Jaren Jackson (in a trade with Memphis),” the executive said. “Now you have him and (7-1, 240-pound forward Lauri) Markkanen, with (7-2, 245-pound center Walker) Kessler potentially back (he’s a restricted free agent this summer). It’s like they’re gearing up for that reality that they’re gonna be facing (these Spurs) for the foreseeable future and need big, athletic, defensive-minded guys to combat Wemby.”
“You’ll see it in the draft, too, with the kid from Michigan (7-3, 260-pound center Aday Mara) going really high because he has size, is agile and is a pretty good defender.”
As for the notion that the Bucks might have a more robust market for Antetokounmpo because of what Wembanyama is doing, all three of the executives agreed that it’s a logical conclusion. The 6–11, 243-pound “Greek Freak” still has one of the league’s most elite physiques, with the athleticism and aggressive styles to maximize it, as well as the ability to play inside and out that is an absolute must.
“Yeah, Giannis is a matchup solution for Wemby, so I could definitely see teams factoring that in when they’re discussing trading for him,” one of the Western Conference executives said.
When Wembanyama had his most memorable game yet in the series opener against the Thunder, I compared the viewing experience (hypothetically speaking) to the equivalent of watching “Wilt and Russell all at once.” Then again, that comparison made little sense considering he had just buried a three-pointer from more than 32 feet that forced the second overtime. So … Steph Curry meets Wilt combined with Russell?
The comparisons, as we all agreed, are futile.
“He’s a problem from inside the halfcourt, and there’s just no one like that,” one of the West executives said with a laugh. “At least Shaq was human in the sense that you needed three centers to bang with him. You’ve got 18 fouls (to work with). Maybe one was skilled, and the other two could hold him up while the other guys get rest. But there’s no archetype like (Wembanyama) — no player ever. It’s a problem, and it’s going to be a problem for 15 years.”
By Sam Amick, via The Athletic