The New York Knicks secured the 2026 NBA Finals championship by defeating the San Antonio Spurs in a five-game series [1, 2]. The Spurs, led by 7-foot-4 rookie Victor Wembanyama, reached the Finals after a strong postseason run but ultimately fell short [1, 2].
After the final buzzer in Game 5, Wembanyama left the court immediately without joining the traditional handshake line with Knicks players, drawing criticism [1, 2]. Veteran NBA player Draymond Green publicly criticized Wembanyama’s decision, urging him on sportsmanship. "Look your killer in the face. You gotta look them in the face," Green said. "If you leave the court and you don't look me in my face and I just beat you, I actually know that I own you forever because you couldn't look me in the face" [2].
At his postgame press conference, Wembanyama appeared displeased and largely avoided questions about his walk-off. He called the Finals loss "painful" and described it as "the biggest lesson of my life, the biggest learning moment." He said, "This is the biggest lesson of my life, the biggest learning moment. I can't tell exactly what the lesson is, but we're learning from that, for sure. I'm learning more than any other time in my life before" [1].
During the Finals, Wembanyama was also criticized for a dangerously hard foul and for laughing during a heated moment, which drew scrutiny from fans and commentators [2]. Despite the loss, the Spurs remain a young team widely regarded as early title contenders with a promising future [1].
The Knicks clinched the championship in Game 5 on June 14, marking their first title in decades [1, 2]. The Spurs and Wembanyama now turn their focus to the offseason and building on their Finals experience.
