The incongruity of some of Wembanyama’s calmest moments coming within one of the busiest, loudest places on Earth boils down to an individuality that has elevated the 7-foot-4 center — literally and figuratively — above the rest of his esteemed colleagues. Two years ago, when a young, inexperienced Spurs group found itself in a bout of inconsistency, Wembanyama found himself in Washington Square Park for a game of chess. And two years later, when these same young, inexperienced Spurs fell in a 2-0 hole, his travels led him to Gramercy Park.

“Really tried to relax,” Wembanyama said when asked about clearing his mind following San Antonio’s 115-11 win. “The playoffs, it's like a — I don't know how to say that word — a whirlwind. It's hard to put your head out of the water. Sometimes I don't even got to watch the game back right away. I need some time off, let my brain cool down, recover. Recover as much for the body as for the mind.”

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By this point of the season, the conversation around the Spurs had largely shifted away from the collective to Wembanyama. How would he respond, not simply facing a 2-0 deficit but also against one of the most dominant playoff teams in NBA history, playing in front of the most passionate, arrogant, boisterous fans in the world? 

And it wasn’t simply down to course correcting from Games 1 and 2. New York just felt bigger, better. More aggressive. Hungrier. Smarter. Game 3 was as much about Wembanyama’s response to Karl-Anthony Towns and the Knicks’ scheme as it was a response to himself. 

Certain sectors of the brain are emphasized, different components highlighted, when dealing with mental activities as opposed to their physical counterparts. Focus in chess. Attention to detail in illustrating. Wembanyama channeled it all on Monday night in thrilling, emphatic fashion. 

From the opening tip, it was clear the 22-year-old intended to take on an entire city, to attempt to overthrow Gotham like the Joker. An emphasis on ball screens closer to the perimeter, those both targeting Jalen Brunson and others to shake Wembanyama free of Towns’ vice grip, giving him a larger runway to roll to the rim or receive the ball in favorable areas underneath the nail. A renewed synergy with Stephon Castle — and a recommitment to San Antonio’s ball movement ethos, with 28 assists on 37 field goals — made Wembanyama a rather difficult cover. His force both with the ball in his hands and his command of the square footage around him without it hit the Knicks like a gut punch, with Wembanyama hitting shot after shot. And in the fourth quarter, Wembanyama’s 10 points screamed louder than any fan could, gradually reducing the amount of electricity in Madison Square Garden until he was ready to rip the circuit breaker out of the wall. He walked off the floor to a completely stunned crowd after amassing 32 points on 11-for-18 shooting, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 blocks and 2 steals. Not bad for your Finals debut in the Garden. 

“I'm sure Victor has numerous sources of motivation,” head coach Mitch Johnson said. “I don't think any of us are surprised or expect anything different than a strong performance and him being on his front foot in terms of being in attack mode. For me and the staff, our job is to help the guys. There's no momentum. There's no carryover. We learn what we saw and experienced from the previous game, and now plural. When you get into a series, you have to settle in. The clarity that comes from watching the tape, arguing with your staff, trying to help the guys is the job. That's what we'll continue to do and we'll have the same approach in the next 48 hours.”

(Aside from Wembanyama’s paint dominance, Castle’s control and paint touches were critical in Game 3. The former Rookie of the Year finished with 23 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists and provided a consistent secondary — and at times primary — source of downhill aggression. His ability to create havoc underneath the perimeter, absorb contact and finish against smaller defenders remains a huge component of the Spurs’ offensive balance, in addition to his nightly defensive duties.)

Eight months into a long, grueling NBA season, the Spurs are an open book at this point. There are no secrets to how they play, what areas they look to emphasize and how Wembanyama is expected to assert himself at both ends of the floor. San Antonio’s defense unlocked a fourth-quarter frenzy, muting Towns’ impact as a hub and limiting New York to just 20 points on 7-for-27 shooting, a combination of Wembanyama’s presence at the rim, swarming on Landry Shamet’s touches and living with the results. Wembanyama, who bore the brunt of blame for the Game 2 loss, dominated the dominant from start to finish. Just like he drew it up. 

“Not bad,” Wembanyama said with a smile. “Pretty good.”