The Oklahoma City Thunder have been one of the NBA’s most dominant teams over the past two seasons, excelling on both ends of the court. However, their aggressive, foul-drawing offensive style has often drawn criticism, with San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama recently suggesting it was “unethical.”
Those remarks, however, didn’t sit well with three-time NBA champion Udonis Haslem, who came out in strong defense of the Thunder’s playstyle.
Udonis Haslem Responds to Victor Wembanyama’s Criticism
The Thunder’s aggressive approach under head coach Mark Daigneault involves using physical defense to force turnovers, but this physicality often pushes the limits, leading to the perception that they draw many fouls without committing as many themselves.
This reliance on generating trips to the free-throw line, a strategy some consider foul-baiting, is precisely the kind of forced basketball that Wembanyama recently criticized.
“I’m just glad to be part of something that’s growing to be so beautiful — pure and ethical basketball,” Wemby said after the Spurs defeated the Thunder in the NBA Cup semifinals.
While Wembanyama was advocating for the classic “Spurs way,” emphasizing ball movement and teamwork rather than exploiting fouls, his comments were widely interpreted as a subtle jab at the Thunder, particularly given the timing of the matchup.
Haslem didn’t take the critique lightly. Speaking on the latest episode of NBA on Prime Video, Haslem emphasized that results matter more than style.
“You can’t whine your way, cry your way, beg your way to a championship. I’m not sure hes talking about OKC but i don’t want to hear none of that about OKC,” Haslem said.
The Thunder’s approach forces opponents to work harder just to execute their offense. Combined with strategic fouling, this constant pressure prevents opposing teams from establishing their preferred tempo. While Wembanyama questioned the ethics, as long as the NBA rules allow it and OKC keeps winning, Haslem sees no issue.
Regardless of Wembanyama’s opinion about the Thunder or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Spurs proved they can still compete with top-tier teams, defeating the defending champions while Wembanyama posted 22 points, nine rebounds, two blocks, and one steal in just 21 minutes.
Though San Antonio eventually fell to the New York Knicks in the finals, they have since dominated in subsequent games, winning each by 25 points or more. The Spurs will travel to Washington before returning home to face the Thunder on Tuesday night, setting up what promises to be an exciting rematch.