Knicks champion reveals the moment Victor Wembanyama’s Spurs lost the NBA Finals before it even started

Knicks champion reveals the moment Victor Wembanyama’s Spurs lost the NBA Finals before it even started originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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When Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs secured the dramatic win over the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder punch their ticket to the 2026 NBA Finals, the celebrations perfectly captured the sheer gravity of what this young team pulled off. Wembanyama was seen sharing an intense hug with Devin Vassell before burying his face and crying as the reality set in. 

Wembanyama continued to walk around the court, fighting back tears while embracing the rest of his teammates and coaching staff. However, the high of that Thunder series win vanished when the Spurs fell to the New York Knicks in 5 games during the NBA Finals.

Speaking on the “Roommates” podcast, Knicks guard Josh Hart had a hilarious jab at Wembanyama for their celebrations following the Thunder series win.

“Everyone was saying that they [Spurs] had to beat OKC. So they beat OKC, and that was like the mountain top for them,” Hart said. “After, I look at [Jalen Brunson] like ‘Did you see that reaction?’ They think they’re gonna win it, they think it’s over.”

The championship series ended with a painful 94-90 defeat for San Antonio in Game 5. As the final horn sounded at Frost Bank Center and the Knicks celebrated their title, Wembanyama and his teammates drew attention by immediately leaving the floor and heading to the locker room rather than staying on the court.

Following the Western Conference Finals, Wembanyama had said that the Spurs’ job was not finished and that they still needed four more victories to accomplish their ultimate goal. They fell short this season, but with Wembanyama leading the franchise, many around the league view San Antonio’s future as one of the most promising situations in the NBA.

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