The roadblocks to glory have been taller than Victor Wembanyama’s 7-foot-4 frame — so far

While he just suffered heartbreak on the ultimate basketball stage at just 22 years old, San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama is actually no stranger to disappointment under the bright lights. Anointed the game’s next face more than half a decade ago, Wemby has played for all the marbles in the global U19 World Cup, the Olympics, the NBA Cup and now the NBA Finals.

Not only has he come up short each time, he’s finished second in all of them.

Of course, the loss to the New York Knicks for the Larry O’Brien trophy looms largest. But given Wembanyama’s competitive nature, each has proven significant for the French phenom.

Victor Wembanyama lost to rival in FIBA U19 World Cup

Wemby first faced off against now Oklahoma City Thunder big man Chet Holmgren in the 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup. At just 17 years old, Wemby led France to the final vs. Holmgren for a match-up against Team USA.

Having been on the global radar for roughly more than a year at that point, Wembanyama turned the tournament into a coming out party. A 22-point, 8-block, 8-rebound performance in the title game almost carried out-manned France over the Americans. But, though it rounded out a competition in which the Le Chesnay, the France native averaged 14 points, 7.4 rebounds, and an astounding 5.7 rejections per game, Team USA captured the top prize with Holmgren winning MVP.

A clip showing Wemby visibly upset — broadcast at least once during a WCF that saw Wemby dominate Holmgren in the Spurs’ triumph — has become synonym0us with that contest five years ago.

Wemby fell short in Olympics vs. loaded Team USA

Despite teaming with several NBA players for Team France, Wembanyama faced an American squad that featured LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Anthony Edwards, Devin Booker, Joel Embiid and Jayson Tatum among other stars in the Gold Medal game. And it was the first overall pick of the 2023 NBA Draft who led all scorers that day with 26.

Wemby helped keep the French national team close, but the Americans’ firepower — capped by a sensational shooting display by Curry late — proved too much in the 98-87 victory.

2025 NBA Cup vs. New York Knicks

Little did we know that a holiday season basketball treat would provide a glimpse of what was to come. Coming off a victory vs. the then 24-1 Thunder (before the loss to the Spurs) in the NBA Cup semifinal, the Silver and Black took on the Knicks for the competition’s trophy.

Uncanny down to specifics, the Spurs led by double-digits on that mid-December night and took a lead into the fourth quarter. Dylan Harper led them with 21 points off the bench. A 124-113 New York victory meant another second place finish for Wembanyama.

Coming up short in 2026 NBA Finals

Again a runner-up, Wembanyama couldn’t overcome the Spurs’, as well as his own youth and inexperience during the series’ biggest moments. That they couldn’t sustain large leads in all four losses superseded San Antonio’s talent advantage, especially at the top of the roster, especially considering a couple of their top players had multiple rough outings.

While Wembanyama has said he’d like to play in World Cup qualifiers later this summer, his next chance to hoist a trophy won’t come until two months into next season in the 2026 NBA Cup. Of course, there’s another NBA title he’d prefer. And, as he alluded to following the 94-90 loss to the Knicks that ended his season, that goal is another ‘hundred games’ away.

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