Dan Patrick unloads on Victor Wembanyama after Spurs’ Finals defeat: ‘Petty’

The New York Knicks waited 53 years to raise another championship banner. When the moment finally arrived Saturday night, Jalen Brunson delivered the type of performance that cements legacies.

Victor Wembanyama, meanwhile, left many talking about something entirely different.

Dan Patrick praised Jalen Brunson and blasted Victor Wembanyama after the NBA Finals. Getty Images

Following New York’s five-game NBA Finals victory over the San Antonio Spurs, longtime broadcaster Dan Patrick offered a blunt assessment of how the two superstars handled the spotlight.

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“I think Wemby got exposed in a variety of ways here,” Patrick said. “I think he came off as petty. I think he came off occasionally as a guy who would give a cheap shot. I didn’t like sort of how he ended the series. Go find Jalen Brunson. I mean, Jalen Brunson was all class.”

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson holds the MVP trophy after the Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA Finals AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin

Patrick’s criticism stems less from Wembanyama’s performance and more from how he carried himself during the series.

The Spurs star faced scrutiny for several heated exchanges with Knicks players, including Mitchell Robinson, a controversial shove on Jalen Brunson and criticism after leaving the floor without the same visible postgame sportsmanship that Brunson displayed.

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 AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin

While many viewed those moments as the frustration of a 22-year-old superstar learning on the biggest stage, Patrick saw them as signs that Wembanyama’s maturity and leadership still have room to grow.

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To Patrick, the contrast with Brunson could not have been sharper.

As the final seconds ticked away in New York’s 94-90 championship-clinching victory, Brunson first sought out Spurs coach Mitch Johnson for a handshake before joining his teammates in celebration. It was a small gesture, but one that reinforced the reputation Brunson…

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Publish date : 2026-06-15 21:22:00

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