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Victor Wembanyama avoided the media after Game 5, quietly exiting the Paycom Center without addressing reporters.
Similarly, he kept his comments brief following the Spurs’ triumph in Game 6, sharing only a few words during an NBC on-court interview.
However, following Game 7, Wembanyama’s performance lifted the Spurs over the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in a nail-biting conclusion to the Western Conference finals, securing their spot in the NBA Finals against the Knicks. His on-court emotions spoke volumes.
After the Spurs clinched their 111-103 victory over the Thunder on Saturday in Oklahoma City, Wembanyama was visibly moved. As he celebrated with his San Antonio teammates, he momentarily rested his head in his hands and cheered in joy, making his way across the court right after the final buzzer.
During the postgame press conference, Wembanyama shared his thoughts: “Winning the Larry O’Brien trophy has been a dream since childhood. To have a real, tangible chance at it is incredible—a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Achieving this dream would be one of the most significant moments of my life. It’s difficult to express, but it feels like the essence of my existence.”
It’s fitting that Wembanyama — one of the new faces of the league as a superstar in his third year — will lead the Spurs back to their first Finals appearance since 2014, which also marked their last title.
The 7-foot-4 center finished third in MVP voting and became the first-ever unanimous Defensive Player of the Year winner during the regular season, finishing with averages of 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and an NBA-best 3.1 blocks per game.
That success has continued during his first trip to the postseason, too, as Wembanyama had averaged 23.3, 11.0, 2.8 and 3.7 per game in the playoffs before adding another 22 points and seven rebounds in Game 7.
And now, San Antonio sits four wins from its fifth title this century, with Game 1 set for Wednesday against the Knicks — who defeated the Spurs in the NBA Cup final back in December at a neutral site in Las Vegas.
“I want to win so bad,” Wembanyama said during his postgame press conference. “It’s like my life depends on it.”