Winning Game 4 against the Oklahoma City Thunder was the San Antonio Spurs’ only goal tonight. They played as if it were Game 7 of the NBA Finals, and Mitch Johnson even coached like it. The understudy of Gregg Popovich hammered down the importance of principles on the court. And when young Carter Bryant slipped up just a little bit, the coach tore straight into him. But was it warranted?

Bryant is inexperienced compared to the normal NBA rookie fighting for minutes. The forward played limited minutes during his first three months, but eventually turned the tide. He recorded multiple double-digit performances, and he was ready for his first-ever postseason. It was practically new territory for everyone, including Victor Wembanyama. And even though San Antonio has reached the Conference Finals, they’ve made mistakes. Bryant’s carelessness last night led Johnson to grab his jersey and yell in his face. The young star then appeared to be on the verge of crying during a timeout.

That’s when Wemby came over and consoled the defensive guard by putting an arm around his shoulder. He even murmured a few words in his ear and patted Bryant on his chest. The 20-year-old was having his worst game. He picked up three fouls and turned the ball over in the third quarter. This was big-moment pressure getting to him. He needed reassurance. And Bryant got it from the one person expected to be flawless and to bear the most responsibility for the Spurs.

After the play, one of the announcers explained why Johnson was harsh on his young player in the middle of a game. “Coach Johnson told me specifically that for Carter, he had this conversation with him: He said, ‘You’re going to make mistakes. I’m going to yell at you. So, let’s just get over that, but let’s make those mistakes fast, intensely, and aggressively,'” the announcer narrated. “He said, ‘Your instincts are good. Just go out and play.'” This was pure passion on display, and Wemby then stepping in as a protective shield highlights how tight-knit this Spurs group actually is.

Before this season began, Bryant had shed light on how Wemby, a generational star, fits seamlessly into the San Antonio locker room. He compared the Spurs to a perfectly functioning car. “You can’t just have the engine and wheels and expect it to run; there are all these little parts that make it go,” he said. “[Wemby] is definitely the engine, but he understands how every part matters.”

Wemby also prioritizes spending time with his teammates off the court. He believes that building natural chemistry is the only way everyone can align toward a common objective. And that unity among the Spurs players has been evident in both how they play and how they stick together through thick and thin. About a month ago, Wemby was asked about how he manages to keep this young group together. At the time, they had beaten Portland by 21 points.

“In adversity, we stick together, we get closer to each other,” the Frenchman explained. “We got this connection. I think there’s no useless drama between us. We thrive when we do the invisible efforts that benefit others. There’s no jealousy. Nobody cares about their stat line. It’s our greatest strength.”

Naturally, there are numerous instances in which Wemby’s teammates have spoken highly of him. Stephon Castle once appreciated the 22-year-old’s gesture of showing up for the team even though he wasn’t playing. “That’s just the kind of person he is,” the Spurs star said. “He’s not doing that for cameras or views or anything. That’s just how he is. He was at our practice the other day… We talk to him a lot, after most games.”

Not too long ago, Dylan Harper commended Wemby for setting an example not just with his words but also with his actions. And even though no comparison was made, NBA players have literally described Kobe Bryant and LeBron James in very similar ways.

“[Wemby] is the first one in the gym all the time, just the discipline he has every day is the best thing about him,” Harper said about Wemby late in the regular season. “He’s the most humble guy in the gym. He’s the most humble guy, whether that’s on the court or off the court. He will greet everyone and make sure we all feel like one big family. So he’s just doing a great job being a leader and buckling down on what he knows, and that’s how to win.”

One thing about the Frenchman is that he will stand up for his teammates. And on Bryant’s difficult day, the Spurs’ cornerstone had his back. The unanimous DPOY produced a performance for the ages to level the series at 2-2 against OKC.

Victor Wembanyama does everything in Game 4

We don’t know what Victor Wembanyama ate before Game 4. The French phenom was at work from the very beginning, hitting a three-pointer to get his night started. But that was the most normal bucket he may have scored the entire night. Because after that, Wemby was running around, picking up misses and turning them into dunks from outrageously wild angles. And the dagger came just before the halftime interval. He drilled a half-court buzzer-beater to extend the Spurs’ lead to 12.

There wasn’t a bone in Wemby’s body that would have accepted a loss today. He was by far the only Spurs player to really carve through the Thunder‘s imperious defense. He finished with 33 points, eight rebounds, and five assists on the offensive end. Now, even on his worst days, the Frenchman is a terrific defender. But Game 4 showed more glimpses of how high the Spurs talisman can rise.

Wemby’s three blocks and two steals don’t tell the entire story. After Game 3, he questioned his ability to make his teammates better. He demanded more of himself. And last night, that absolutely came through his defensive work rate. Wemby wasn’t just camping in the paint but creating pressure that allowed the Spurs’ skilled defense to capitalize on windows.

On one possession, Stephon Castle rushed Isaiah Hartenstein’s blindside to get a steal, all while he was busy dealing with Wemby at the top of the key. Such moments gave San Antonio‘s offense some life outside of Wemby. They generated 27 points off 17 OKC turnovers. They only scored 103, with nobody except Wemby scoring over 15. That’s where their defensive engagement changed the game, allowing just 82 points from an offense that hadn’t scored under 100 in the 11 playoff games before Game 4!

After this, the series is blown wide open once again. Both sides exchanged hits, taking a game at each other’s home court. Now it’s down to the final three to decide who goes to the NBA Finals.