At the conclusion of the Western Conference Finals, the whole world watched as Victor Wembanyama openly shed tears of joy. While this was a breakthrough moment for the promising young star, one former NBA champion wasn’t too pleased with what he saw.
Speaking on his “KG Certified” podcast, Kevin Garnett expressed his disappointment at Wembanyama’s reaction, saying that the San Antonio Spurs center runs the risk of losing his focus.
“That was too emotional for me…Man, he got four more games to try to get! You gotta go through the Finals now. Nah, you still gotta be even-keeled right here.”
Garnett, who won an NBA title with the Boston Celtics in 2008, called for Wembanyama and his Spurs squad to capitalize on this opportunity at the Knicks’ expense.
“You ain’t got no Boston. You ain’t got no OKC. You gotta go now…The Knicks, they ain’t seen this type of defense right here.”
Since the 2025-26 began, the Knicks and the Spurs have met three times, with New York pulling off the victory twice.
The first time they met was on December 16, when they squared off in the finals of the NBA Cup. The Knicks pulled away in the fourth quarter of that matchup to seal the 124-113 win, with Jalen Brunson scoring 25 points en route to being named NBA Cup MVP.
To Garnett’s point, though, the Spurs have levelled up their game since then. They’re the no. 2 defense in the playoffs thus far, but it just so happens that their opponent in the championship series is the no. 1 team in this category.
“They’re Right Where They Are Supposed to Be”: Victor Wembanyama Praises Knicks Prior to Game 1
The brilliance of the Knicks is not lost on Victor Wembanyama, who gave the Eastern Conference champions their props ahead of the NBA Finals.
“It’s a great team of experienced guys who are not here by chance, but by relentless effort over the years…They’re right where they are supposed to be.”
When the Spurs last faced the Knicks on March 1, Wembanyama put up 25 points, 13 rebounds, and four blocks. New York, however, blew out San Antonio 114-89 that night to snap the Spurs’ 11-game winning streak.
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