Harrison Barnes led the plaudits for Victor Wembanyama after the San Antonio Spurs overwhelmed the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Spurs sent the Western Conference finals to Game 7 as an inspired Wembanyama turned in a fantastic display in a 118-91 victory.

Wembanyama finished with 28 points and 10 rebounds as the Spurs fought back from the brink of elimination.

The Frenchman became the fifth player to record at least 350 points and 150 rebounds in their first postseason.

Wembanyama spoke to his teammates in the wake of their defeat in Game 5, and Barnes said the 22-year-old is displaying his leadership qualities.

"Just his approach after the game, the things he said in the locker room to us as a team – when you say all these things, then you back it up with actions, it kind of has an effect," Barnes said, as quoted by ESPN.

"As a leader being able to do that, being able to talk the talk and then walk the walk with play, that's a rare combination.

"He started off the game on both ends of the floor with great energy, great focus, and he set the tone for us. The development of his voice, to be able to speak in these situations with confidence, not only lead by example, but lead with your voice in those games [is important].

Took care of business at home pic.twitter.com/gUW0fhzjfR

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"Taking the criticism and acknowledging how he can be better in some of the games, whether it's Game 2, Game 3, Game 5, and then responding that way, you don't see a lot of guys in their third year with this level of responsibility that he has on our team to be able to step into that moment with the comfort that he has.

"He's OK standing outside of himself, putting himself out there and just being authentic."

Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said: "He's not always perfect and we've got to get him help at times.

"Obviously he's 22 years old. But his passion and desire for being right where he is, at the forefront of it all, to take the responsibility, the role and the burden of what he does, I don't know what else to say. He is comfortable with that regardless of the outcome and what that may look like.

"That's maybe his biggest growth this year: not waiting for it to be perfect or to necessarily know what to do all the time, but attack the moment, have the right approach and live with the results."