Charles Barkley delivered a harsh verdict on Victor Wembanyama after the New York Knicks took a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals, saying the Spurs star is "being owned" by Karl-Anthony Towns.
Victor Wembanyama entered the NBA Finals as one of the league's brightest young stars, but through two games against the New York Knicks, Charles Barkley believes the San Antonio Spurs centerpiece has been thoroughly outplayed.
Following New York's 105-104 win in Game 2, which gave the Knicks a 2-0 series lead, Barkley offered a blunt assessment of Wembanyama's matchup with Karl-Anthony Towns.
"Wemby's in shock right now," Barkley said on ESPN on ABC. "It's probably been a long time since he got his a** kicked like this... Wemby's spinning - he's throwing the ball all over the place. It's a shock to his system.
"...He is so flustered right now," he added. "He's 22. He's gonna own the league soon, but right now he is being owned... Big KAT is just taking his a** to the woodshed. Plain and simple."
Towns has been one of the driving forces behind New York's strong start to the series, making an impact on both ends of the floor. In Game 1, the Knicks big man dominated the individual matchup, holding Wembanyama to 2-of-12 shooting as the primary defender while finding success offensively himself.
Although Wembanyama bounced back with 29 points and nine rebounds in Game 2, Towns continued to win several of the game's most important battles.
The Knicks star shot 8-of-12 from the field and repeatedly created second-chance opportunities. His physical approach was especially noticeable on the glass, where he outworked the younger Spurs star and collected three offensive rebounds while Wembanyama was on the floor.
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