The Oklahoma City Thunder are led by the NBA's best scorer, but the San Antonio Spurs have an answer for it.
It's no secret that the NBA has plenty of issues, or at least ones the casual fan is more than happy to complain about.
Between tanking, the perceived lack of physical defense, and load management, talking heads have plenty to criticize. Rising above all that and quickly becoming the league's hottest topic, however, is foul-baiting.
Perhaps no one in the NBA embodies that more than Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who also happens to be leading the league's best team to the first seed and is the best scorer in the NBA.
SGA has developed quite a reputation as the NBA's premier "foul baiter" or "flopper," but as the Thunder and San Antonio Spurs prepare for a possible Western Conference Finals matchup, perhaps no one is better equipped to slow Gilgeous-Alexander down more than Victor Wembanyama.
How Spurs Can Overcome OKC's 'Biggest Weapon'
In the rare event that the Thunder find themselves in a close game, they have a foolproof way to make sure they win.
Give Gilgeous-Alexander the ball, clear some space, let him get to his spot, and he will either make a shot or draw a foul. In fact, he often manages to do both.
If the Thunder meet the Spurs in the postseason, San Antonio might be the only team that can overcome that unstoppable tactic.
"Victor can take away their biggest weapon," an unnamed Western Conference coach told ESPN. "When games are close, Shai gets to his spot at the elbows and kills you with his midrange jumper or gets you to foul him. Well, Victor has a f---ing 8-foot wingspan, and he can defend that jumper and the rim at the same time and be far enough away that Shai can't draw contact from him."
Good luck shooting over that, and Wemby has the poise to keep his body away from the shooter. Already this season, he's found success.
In ten attempts this season while being guarded by Wembanyama, the reigning MVP is shooting only four-of-ten from the field.
The Spurs are 3-1 in those games, 4-1 against OKC overall, although SGA sat in the final matchup.
Of course, the Thunder are just as deep as the Spurs and can beat them a variety of ways, but the Spurs can combat OKC's biggest weapon. Can the Thunder say the same?