Victor Wembanyama came to Tuesday’s NBA Finals media day with a WCF MVP trophy and a blunt refusal to celebrate it.
“Coming back down from this is a challenge,” he told reporters. “We haven’t done the hardest yet. The job isn’t done at all.”
Game 1 is tonight. 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC. New York Knicks vs. San Antonio Spurs. First Finals since 2014 for San Antonio, first since 1999 for New York.
WCF MVP – and unmoved
Over seven games against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Wembanyama averaged 27.3 points, 10.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.7 blocks per game, shooting 40.0% from three. He opened the series with 41 points and 24 rebounds in Game 1 and was named conference finals MVP unanimously.
He turned 22 last January. The 2014 championship, when the Spurs beat Miami for their fifth title, happened before he started high school.
His message about the Knicks is worth noting – not dismissive, not overconfident.
“It’s a great team of experienced guys who are not here by chance, but by relentless effort over the years,” he said. “They’re right where they are supposed to be. All of them are going to be super hungry.”
The Knicks’ response
Jalen Brunson (26.9 PPG in these playoffs, third among all remaining players per ESPN) did not try to downplay what he watched in the Western Conference.
“Things he’s able to do on both sides of the ball, people have never really seen before, for a person of his size,” Brunson said. “It’s incredible to watch from a player’s perspective.”
New York enters with an 11-game winning streak through the postseason and an average winning margin of 23.8 points. They swept Cleveland to reach the Finals, their first appearance since Patrick Ewing’s era.
One name to watch: Robinson
Backup center Mitchell Robinson (5.3 PPG, 5.5 RPG in 14.2 minutes per game this postseason) is listed as questionable for Game 1 with a broken pinky. He underwent surgery last week and participated in light drills during media day. His rim protection, limited but real, could matter against Wembanyama in the paint.
Bottom line: Wembanyama won the WCF MVP. The Spurs took seven hard games to get past OKC. Wembanyama is calling the Knicks dangerous. Game 1 tips off at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Sources: NBA.com, ESPN, NBC Sports
