On Monday night, as his Spurs pulled off a 115-111 win in Game 3 of the NBA Finals, Victor Wembanyama turned himself into a Knicks villain.
The Madison Square Garden faithful, in one of their better showings in the World’s Most Famous Arena’s history, berated Wembanyama and his teammates, yet they responded by cutting the Knicks’ series lead to 2-1.
Knick fans had gotten used to winning, having not witnessed a loss since April 23, the first day of the 2026 NFL Draft.
A big part of that streak being broken was Wembanyama breaking out in his best game of the series thus far, scoring 32 points with eight rebounds, six assists and three blocks.
Wembanyama, however, doesn’t see himself as the ultimate Knicks villain quite yet.
When asked whether he sees being vilified by the feisty crowd as a compliment, he didn’t think he had reached the level of another notorious New York villain.
“I guess,” Wembanyama said. “I’m nowhere near Trae Young level, though.”
Wembanyama, while certainly having faced the wrath of the Knicks faithful, hasn’t quite taken the Young-established route of showboating and responding to Knicks fans while on the floor at MSG like the ex-Hawks star did while leading Atlanta to a first-round playoff win over the Knicks in 2021.
Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs reacts 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. Getty Images
But Wembanyama did shove Jalen Brunson in the first half last night, which automatically makes him the newest subject of Knick fan fury.
Fans also changed “F–k you, Wemby” during the contest.
Trae Young during a 2025 game against the Knicks. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POSTHe does seem to enjoy all that New York has to offer, though.
Last season, he challenged New Yorkers to play him in a game of chess at Washington Square Park.
Before Monday’s game, he was spotted sketching in Gramercy Park.
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The list of New York villains is long, but the hatred of Knicks villains in particular brings the city together like little else.
Should Wembanyama continue playing like he did Monday night, the vitriol he feels will surely only grow.
