Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama embraces competitive edge but rejects villain label after NBA playoff lessons
Victor Wembanyama is unquestionably one of basketball’s brightest young stars. In his third NBA season, he led the San Antonio Spurs to the Finals.
San Antonio ultimately lost the series to the New York Knicks in five games. Wembanyama earned several individual honors, including his first Defensive Player of the Year award and All-NBA selection.
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The French-born Spurs forward opened the 2026-27 season under enormous expectations. The 7-foot-4 star was a preseason favorite to win the NBA MVP award, while San Antonio entered the season as an odds-on favorite to win the championship.
The postseason also marked a notable shift in how the public viewed Wembanyama. Once a widely beloved sports figure, he was increasingly cast by some as a villain.
Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks in Game Three of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden on June 08, 2026 in New York City. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
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A series of on-court incidents fueled claims that Wembanyama had become a “dirty” player. One of those situations surfaced in the Western Conference semifinals, when his elbow made contact with then-Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid.
During the Finals, many Knicks fans grew furious at times over Wembanyama’s defense against Jalen Brunson.
Once viewed as a conquering hero, Wembanyama was quickly cast as a New York sports villain. But he insisted the criticism does not faze him.
“No, it didn’t because I’m not paying attention to this … during the Finals. I don’t think any player on either team really is,” Wembanyama told “60 Minutes” when asked about his portrayal as a villain in a clip released Thursday ahead of Sunday’s full sit-down interview.
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San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama looks on during the second half of game two of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, on June 5, 2026. (Scott Wachter/Imagn Images)
Although Wembanyama said he tunes out much of the noise, he does not appear eager to let the villain label stick. He added that last season’s playoff run taught him where to draw the line between playing with a competitive edge and going a step farther than he should, acknowledging that he crossed it at times.
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“It showed my limits more than anything else. Going out there, you need to play basketball. You don’t need to beat the s— out of people. [laughs] If you wanna win, at least,” Wembanyama said while reflecting on the lessons he learned from last season’s playoff run.
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama sits on the floor after a foul during the second half of Game 5 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the New York Knicks in San Antonio, Texas, on June 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Wembanyama also drew public attention before some Finals games began. He was seen standing with his arms crossed during the U.S. national anthem before Game 1, but reportedly was not on the court for the anthems before Games 3 and 4.
He has not publicly explained why he stood with his arms crossed before Game 1 on June 3. Wembanyama has played in all five of San Antonio’s regular-season games this season, averaging 25 points per game.
The Spurs return to action Saturday, when they host the Timberwolves.
