Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs are suddenly facing serious pressure in the Western Conference Finals, and now the NBA has stepped in off the court as well.After the Spurs 127-114 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder that put San Antonio in a 3-2 deficit in the Western Conference finals, a team spokesperson said Wembanyama would be unavailable to speak to reporters, Shams Charania reported for ESPN. The spokesperson made the announcement about an hour after Spurs coach Mitch Johnson addressed the loss.The NBA has strict media availability rules during the postseason, especially for star players, and violations have led to financial penalties in the past. While Wembanyama was only warned this time, previous incidents have resulted in hefty fines around the league.The NBA has levied fines in the past to players who did not make themselves available to the media after playoff games, Charania added. In 2023, both Jimmy Butler and Dillon Brooks received $25,000 fines for not speaking to reporters.The timing of the situation only added more attention to Wembanyamas absence after one of his toughest playoff performances yet. The 22-year-old finished with 20 points on just 4-for-15 shooting as Oklahoma City took control of the series.Wembanyama was held to 20 points on 4-for-15 shooting Tuesday, Charania wrote. He had one rebound in the first half, which tied the second half of San Antonios Game 3 loss for his fewest rebounds in a half in the playoffs.The Thunder also found success attacking San Antonios franchise centerpiece defensively.Related Article: Donald Trump Set to Attend NBA FinalsOklahoma City also shot 49% with Wembanyama on the court in Game 5, the highest field goal percentage a team has shot against him in the postseason, according to ESPN.Spurs coach Mitch Johnson admitted after the game that San Antonio must do a better job involving their star heading into an elimination matchup.Were going to need to get Wemby going, Johnson said following the loss.READ MORE: Becky Hammon Doubles Down on Viral Jalen Brunson Take
