Wembanyama, MSG villain: “Trae? I’m nowhere near his level”

The 2026 NBA Finals are far from over. Just when the New York Knicks appeared to be cruising toward a championship, Victor Wembanyama completely changed the narrative of the series. With an MVP-caliber performance, the French star led the San Antonio Spurs to a 115-111 victory in Game 3, cutting New York’s lead to 2-1.

For New York, it was a painful loss not only because of the result, but also because of how it happened. The Knicks entered the game riding a 13-game playoff winning streak, the second-longest in NBA postseason history, and had not lost a game in 46 days.

Wembanyama leads San Antonio

The Spurs’ franchise centerpiece finished the night with 32 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists, once again showing why he is already considered one of the faces of the league. After committing the costly late-game mistake in Game 2, Wembanyama responded with maturity and composure when it mattered most.

He scored 10 points in the fourth quarter, helping San Antonio build the cushion that ultimately proved enough to withstand a late comeback attempt led by Jalen Brunson.

After the game, the French big man explained in simple terms what made the difference compared to the previous matchup:

Fewer mistakes, more control. It’s the little things

Victor Wembanyama

Madison Square Garden fuels the Knicks, but it isn’t enough

The atmosphere at Madison Square Garden was exactly what you would expect for a historic occasion. For the first time since 1999, New York hosted an NBA Finals game, and the excitement throughout the city had reached extraordinary levels. Between fans convinced a sweep was coming and tickets selling for astronomical prices, the entire city seemed ready to celebrate.

Wembanyama, however, described just how difficult it was to play in that environment:

At home, it feels like you’re playing six-on-five. Here, it feels like you’re playing five-on-six. It’s in situations like these that you really find out what a team is made of

Victor Wembanyama

The Finals Are Alive Again

For weeks, New York looked like a nearly flawless machine, steamrolling Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Cleveland before taking the first two games against San Antonio.

Now, however, the Spurs have sent a clear message. With Victor Wembanyama playing at this level, no challenge seems impossible. San Antonio still trails in the series, but it has regained confidence and now has an opportunity to even things up in Game 4.

MSG has a new villain

Adding another layer to the story was the increasingly heated relationship between Wembanyama and the Madison Square Garden crowd. After becoming a target of Knicks fans throughout the series, the French star responded with humor when asked whether he was embracing the role of a “villain” in the eyes of New York supporters.

I don’t think I’m even remotely on Trae Young’s level

Victor Wembanyama

It was a reference to the historic rivalry between the former Hawks star and the Garden crowd, a dynamic that turned Young into one of the most hated figures among Knicks fans over the years. Wembanyama, at least for now, believes he is still a long way from reaching that status.

The Knicks remain the favorites, but after what happened at Madison Square Garden, the race for the NBA championship suddenly feels wide open once again.