[The Athletic] 文班亚马在马刺天王山之战负于雷霆后缺席赛后媒体采访

[TheAthletic]

By Sam Amick | The Athletic, 2026-05-27 05:46:32

《The Athletic》将为您带来2026年西部决赛第六场雷霆对阵马刺的实时报道。

俄克拉荷马城——在俄克拉荷马雷霆队以127-114击败圣安东尼奥马刺队，赢下西部决赛天王山之战（第五场）后，当维克托·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 洗完澡、换上便装走出来时，时间已快到午夜。

马刺队的客队更衣室里依然挤满了记者，他们都在等待这位22岁的内线巨星，想听听他如何解释自己在周二晚上的挣扎表现——在这场比赛后，雷霆队已经取得了大比分3-2的领先。然而，正当马刺队后卫德阿隆·福克斯 (De’Aaron Fox) 接受采访时，文班亚马却出乎所有媒体的意料，直接穿过人群走向球队大巴。他在佩科姆中心球馆（PayCom Center）的走廊里左转，又走了几百英尺，随后消失在夜色中。他的这一举动让球队官员和现场记者都感到震惊，因为他选择不履行NBA规定的媒体义务。

现场没有关于他15投4中的低迷命中率的讨论，没有关于他在38分钟内仅抢下6个篮板的解释，也没有关于他在场时马刺净输近两位数（正负值为-8，这实属罕见）的探讨。他没有回应首节与雷霆内线切特·霍姆格伦 (Chet Holmgren) 的那次肩膀碰撞——当时在马刺打出火热开局后，两人在走向替补席时发生了肢体接触。同样，他也没有对雷霆前锋杰林·威廉姆斯 (Jaylin Williams) 随后几分钟里强硬且充满挑衅的回应发表任何看法。

在如此瞩目的季后赛舞台上，面对外界关于雷霆为何能在关键时刻限制其“超能力”的重重疑问，文班亚马在表现如此低迷后选择保持沉默，势必会引来各种批评。尤其是考虑到他整个赛季以来，都对与雷霆之间日益加剧的宿敌恩怨直言不讳。

此外，联盟官员现在必须决定如何应对他的这一决定，这严重违背了联盟对当家球星的规范，也与文班亚马一贯得体的媒体礼仪相悖。据一位联盟官员透露，NBA已就文班亚马在第五场比赛后未履行媒体义务的行为对其进行了警告，但并未罚款。

事实上，本赛季文班亚马还被职业篮球作家协会（PBWA）评选为最受媒体欢迎的球员。除了会招致舆论的审视之外，文班亚马在如此备受瞩目的比赛后逃避媒体义务，很可能会成为联盟决定是否对其进行罚款的考量因素。

在一些马刺队官员看来，文班亚马选择保持沉默，充分说明了他对球队目前严峻处境的清醒认识。在常规赛取得62胜20负的佳绩后（仅落后联盟第一的雷霆2个胜场），马刺在进入这场天王山之战前的9次交锋中赢了雷霆6次，而现在，他们面临着周四在圣安东尼奥进行的第六场生死战。至于文班亚马，去他的联盟规则吧，他显然决定用球场上的表现来给出回应。

由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。

点击查看原文：Victor Wembanyama skips postgame media session after Spurs' Game 5 loss to Thunder

Victor Wembanyama skips postgame media session after Spurs’ Game 5 loss to Thunder

The Athletic has live coverage of Thunder vs. Spurs in Game 6 of the 2026 Western Conference Finals.

OKLAHOMA CITY — By the time Victor Wembanyama emerged with his street clothes on, having taken his postgame shower after the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 127-114 win over his San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals, midnight was fast approaching.

A large crowd of reporters was still in the Spurs’ visiting locker room, all of them waiting around to hear what the 22-year-old big man had to say about why he struggled so mightily Tuesday night as the Thunder took a 3-2 series lead. But as Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox was addressing the reporters, Wembanyama surprised the media masses and walked right past them on the way to the team bus. He took a left at the PayCom Center hallway, walked a few hundred feet more, then veered off into the night while team officials and reporters alike were stunned by his choice not to fulfill the media duties that are mandated by the NBA.

There would be no discussion about his 4-for-15 shooting, the six rebounds he was able to muster in 38 minutes, or the fact that — in a real rarity — his team lost the minutes in which he played by nearly double digits (minus-8). There would be no reflections about his first-quarter shoulder bump with Thunder big man Chet Holmgren, who was grazed by the Spurs big man as they both walked to the bench during San Antonio’s hot start. Nor, for that matter, would there be any comments on the physical and edgy response from Thunder forward Jaylin Williams in the minutes thereafter.

On one of the game’s biggest stages, and with so many questions looming about why the Thunder were able to stop his superpowers when it mattered most, Wembanyama’s choice to stay silent after such a lackluster performance is sure to spark all sorts of criticism. Especially considering how vocal he has been all season about this growing rivalry with the Thunder.

What’s more, league officials must now decide how to respond to his choice, which was a serious break from the league’s norm for its star players and Wembanyama’s typical media decorum. Per a league official, the NBA has warned Wembanyama over his decision not to fulfill media obligations after Game 5, though he was not fined.

This season, in fact, Wembanyama was voted the most media-friendly player in the game by the Professional Basketball Writers Association. In addition to the scrutiny his decision invites, the fact that Wembanyama ducked media duties after such a high-profile game is likely to factor into the league’s decision about whether to issue him a fine.

In the eyes of some Spurs officials, Wembanyama’s choice to stay silent spoke volumes about how he sees the seriousness of his team’s situation. After going 62-20 in the regular season (two games behind the league-leading Thunder), then beating OKC in six of nine games entering this Game 5 loss, they now face possible elimination in Game 6 in San Antonio on Thursday. And Wembanyama, league rules be darned, clearly decided to let his response on the court do the talking.

By Sam Amick, via The Athletic

[TheAthletic]

热评

@Joel R.

他没有故意缺席媒体采访。他本来是想去的，只是没投准。所以他今晚实际上是16投4中。

@5829475

@Joel R. 我们需要更多这样的神评。

@AMD G.

@ 不，我们不需要。

@Garrett D.

他只有在自己是赢家（Victor）的时候才会接受媒体采访。

@6904271

@Garrett D. 也就是说，他很不成熟，而且爱耍大牌。

@Garrett D.

@ 他才22岁。

@Waldo G.

@Garrett D. 这或许能解释他的行为，但不能成为借口。

@Steve C.

看着其中的一些评论，你会发现有些球迷忘记了球员也是人。
我不确定目前还有哪位现役球员能比文班给NBA带来更多积极的关注。甚至连不是篮球迷的人都知道他是谁。
我相信他缺席这次强制性的媒体采访是有他自己的原因。没有他的这一晚，NBA也照样能转。

@Danielle C.

@Steve C. 如果你早上在公司工作不顺，下午的会议你就能不参加了吗？这些家伙拿着数百万的薪水，就应该履行好作为一名NBA球员的全部职责，包括接受媒体采访。他们玩着一项供人娱乐的儿童游戏！这虽然算不上什么丑闻，但希望他别养成习惯。他理应受到批评。

@Diane B.

@Steve C. - 他自己的原因？得了吧，继续自我安慰去吧。He didn’t show because he didn’t want to show. Think he would have been there if he won???

@Mark H.

@Patrick B. 在这个类比中，不，这可不是一个可选的会议。

@Mark H.

@Patrick B. 但事实并非如此。甚至连文章都指出，这些媒体采访是“联盟强制规定”的。他应该也很有可能会被罚款。这虽然不是世界末日，但绝对不是可选的。

@6142911

也许媒体本来可以问问他，当他被换下场时，他跟普拉姆利和比永博耳语了些什么。随后，这两个人上场就对麦凯恩恶意犯规，先是从背后将他撞倒，接着在麦凯恩起步投篮被拉拽时，又用膝盖狠狠地顶了他的头部。文班根本不是他想让你们相信的那种有风度的家伙。他依然只是一个试图学会控制情绪的22岁年轻人。他因为被击败而感到愤怒，而且今晚他的正负值是-8。成熟点吧。

@Michael M.

他在打出了一场极其糟糕的表现后开溜了。马刺的上限取决于文班的表现。你不能既想要MVP，又想被尊为这项运动中最好的球员，却在场上表现得时好时坏。要勇于承担责任。

@Ian K.

如果你在赢球时捶胸顿足地庆祝，那么在输球时你也得咬牙承受批评。维克托 (Victor) 很年轻。当我22岁时，我也是这样。一切顺利时急于高谈阔论，而当事情搞砸时就保持沉默。生活教会了我，顺境时不要得意忘形，逆境时也不要意志消沉。
我希望他能从今天和这个系列赛中吸取教训。并非一切都顺风顺水。要成就伟业，就必须面对艰难险阻。一个很好的例子是，谢伊 (Shai) 从未逃避过任何责任，即使在他打得不好的时候也是如此。这就是成熟。对于维克托来说，随着他的成长，他也会明白这一点的。

@Ed R.

@Ian K. 说得很对。拥有一支如此年轻的球队，其弊端之一就是你没有一个功勋卓著的老将来督促你去做这些事。（哈里森·巴恩斯 (Harrison Barnes) 的贡献太边缘化了，无法扮演那个角色。）
同时，你也会怀念波波 (Pop) 的领导力……因为他很可能会告诉文班，要避免把场上糟糕的一晚演变成第六场比赛前的额外舆论焦点。

@Diane B.

我是勇士球迷，在这场争斗中不偏不帮，但我真的无法忍受这个傲慢自大的戏精，他在NBA还一事无成，却自以为是上天赐给这个世界的礼物。在联盟才打了两年，就因为没拿到MVP而生闷气？？却又胆小得不敢像多诺万·米切尔 (Donovan Mitchell) 在被横扫后那样，去面对媒体同样犀利的提问？你以为米切尔想去吗？不想，但米切尔很有风度。希望马刺输掉比赛，好让我看看文班哭鼻子的样子。

@Nicholas J.

@Diane B. 作为一名勇士球迷，你肯定已经形成了一套心理机制，来为德雷蒙德·格林 (Draymond Green) 这种彻头彻尾的混蛋行为进行合理化辩解。也许你可以分享一下，给马刺球迷提供一些应对策略，好减轻他们因为支持一个十足的蠢货而产生的负罪感？

@Matt F.

@Diane B. 你到底在胡说八道些什么？我从未见过有任何报道说文班亚马觉得自己是上天赐给世界的礼物。缺席媒体采访确实不太好看，但把他和多诺万·米切尔相提并论简直是太离谱了。

@Diane B.

@Nicholas J. - 你是说那个一生中从未逃避过媒体的四届总冠军得主德雷蒙德吗？

@Jack S.

文班是世上最具天赋的篮球运动员，但他也有很多需要成长的地方。当他把一切融会贯通时，他很可能会赢得多个总冠军，但我认为他或马刺今年（还）不够成熟，无法夺冠。

@Scott P.

@Jack S. 我觉得他们只是运气好，碰上了伤兵满营的森林狼 罢了！！

@6904271

@Jack S. 最具天赋？再想想吧。跟风吹捧都是陷阱。

@Patrick B.

@ 那你给我说出一个能砍下30分、抢下10个以上篮板，还能在防守端给队友擦屁股，同时锁死自己防守对象的人。没错，他就是一个你巴不得能加入你主队的独角兽。

@Scott P.

活动空间不够了？

@Samuel M.

8尺5的身高才拿6个篮板，这可不够看。

@Aaron O.

更应该叫他“哇哇”亚马（WAHHHmbanyama）。

@Nolawi A.

虽然我同意这看起来不太妥当，但这篇文章充斥着一种居高临下、阴阳怪气的调调，实在毫无必要。他输了比赛，感到无比沮丧，他直接离开也是情有可原的。别忘了这孩子才22岁，这种不成熟的反应正符合他的年龄。我们别小题大做了。

@Jeffrey G.

@Nolawi A. 完全不同意。球员之所以能拿到这么高的合同，唯一的原因就是媒体带来的巨额收益。球员必须履行他们的媒体义务。他会被罚一大笔钱。

@Anonymous U.

我发现，每当有运动员拒绝回答问题时，记者们总是大做文章。别再把这当成什么道德败坏的事了。开张罚单——这笔钱对他们来说就像我们的几块钱一样——然后该干嘛干嘛去。

@Robert Thomas E.

他需要成熟点。

@Isaac B.

《The Athletic》和其他媒体上有十几篇文章在吹嘘他有多成熟，说我们只能渴望成为他那样的人……如果你要为自己树立这种公关人设，那么在你打得不好的时候，你就必须坦然接受批评。我真的对那些无休止的赞美感到审美疲劳了，而他明明依然会做出这种事情来。

@3738391

@Isaac B.
没错。必须像个男人一样站出来，好坏都要一并承担。

@Dino B.

生闷气，生闷气，生闷气。我可没看到任何雷霆球员在输球时生闷气。

@kv V.

我觉得这完全没问题。希望他下一场狂砍55分。

@10813627

@kv V. 傻X

@Brendan T.

天哪，这算不上什么丑闻。他只是放了你们一晚鸽子。作者写这篇文章，纯粹是因为没能从文班那里拿到采访素材而感到失望。

@Matt S.

@Brendan T. 但事实是，这是一条明确规定的规则……这不应该让任何人感到意外。

@Josh C.

如果我打得那么烂，我也不想去面对媒体。

@themanebro !.

联盟都没有因为他故意用肘部击打别人的脖子而罚他款，那为什么要因为他保持沉默而罚他呢？文班是唯一能将NBA从这种毫无意义的打法和假摔中拯救出来的希望。

@Anonymous U.

@Eugene J. 二级恶意犯规总是伴随着罚款。NBA在审查了该动作后，没有追加额外的罚款。

@tim S.

镜子的另一面。他被捧得太高了，高处的风向注定会发生变化。
我觉得他因为没拿到MVP而抱怨要糟糕得多，非常有种“输不起”的态度。
在球员投票中，谢伊 (Shai) 以83比5的绝对优势领先文班，文班只排在远远的第三位。

@Scott R.

记者们在文班用力肘击纳兹·里德 (Naz Reid) 的头部/颈部却未被禁赛时没有大做文章，现在却因为文班不回答他们的问题而大做文章。真是讽刺。

@3738391

@Scott R.
那场比赛之后我读过的每一篇文章，都在对文班亚马肘击里德大做文章。
而且，这与联盟的明星球员之一忽视其通过媒体与NBA球迷交流的责任毫无关系。

@Kevin B.

他本应该接受采访的，但既然这对他来说并非家常便饭，我认为不这样做恰恰说明了他有多么沮丧，或许他也是担心自己会说出一些事后后悔的话。只要这没有成为一种常态，就没必要太激动。

@NIck D.

他的球队一整年都把他当婴儿一样呵护。他场均只打29分钟，所以他不习惯打长时间的比赛，在季后赛中体力透支了。而且他实际上打得也没那么多。在对阵开拓者的系列赛中他只打了5场中的4场，在对阵森林狼的系列赛中因为过早被驱逐出场，他只打了6场中的5场。季后赛是一场漫长而令人疲惫的战斗，他显然还没有准备好迎接这种硬仗。显然他已经是顶级球员之一了，但要赢得总冠军，光靠技术是不够的。

@3738391

不仅在球场上隐身，赛后也玩起了失踪。他整晚最强硬的举动，就是赛后怒气冲冲地从媒体（延伸开来，也就是NBA球迷）面前走过。
鉴于文班亚马平时对问题的回答都很有深度，这绝对不符合他的性格。这一次他一定是太尴尬和/或太沮丧了，才没有履行他的义务。
你想成为联盟的门面并为自己拉票选MVP？这很好。但这也伴随着责任。乔丹、科比、詹姆斯、伯德、库里……他们从未在季后赛输球后躲避媒体。

@10950657

如果他被罚款，而他们赢下了第六场比赛，就会有文章宣称他是个天才。

@11990584

看着这篇文章和这些评论，人们还以为以前从来没有人缺席过媒体采访呢。

@11302172

文班是一个知道自己很出色的年轻人。这并不总是一件好事，因为这可能会导致他的自我极度膨胀。他似乎在球场上正在失去控制。上一轮他肘击里德的脸，几场比赛前他冲撞亚历克斯·卡鲁索 (Alex Caruso)，以及他对切特 (Chet) 的攻击性和敌意，这些都是可能无法帮助他或球队的消极行为，除非他想成为一个身高7尺4寸、靠愤怒来提升比赛表现的德雷蒙德。考虑到他也拉拽其他球员，他其实没资格抱怨别人拉扯他，况且他昨晚也得到了不少罚球机会。如果文班不能或不想控制自己的情绪，那么马刺将不得不面对一个情绪不稳定的超级巨星，并且必须为随之而来的禁赛而提心吊胆。缺席采访是另一个糟糕的信号，表明他自视甚高，觉得自己可以不遵守规则。他在第三节暂停围拢时激动的讲话可能是积极的，也可能是消极的，球队当时反应很好，但随后又崩盘了。我希望马刺已经为他聘请了体育心理学家。

@6904271

巨婴。

由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。

点击查看原文：

@Joel R.

He did not skip the media session. He was aiming for it, but just missed the mark. So he was actually 4-16 on the night.

@5829475

@Joel R. We need way more of this.

@AMD G.

@ no we don’t.

@Garrett D.

He only talks to media when he is the Victor.

@6904271

@Garrett D. i.e. he is immature and a diva

@Garrett D.

@ he’s 22.

@Waldo G.

@Garrett D. That may explain it, but does not excuse it.

@Steve C.

Reading some of these comments, you’re reminded that some fans forget that players are human beings.
I’m not sure if there’s any current player who is bringing more positive attention to the NBA than Wemby. People who aren’t even basketball fans know who he is.
I’m sure he has his own reasons for skipping the obligatory press gaggle. The NBA can live without him for one night.

@Danielle C.

@Steve C. If you have a bad morning at work, do you get to skip your afternoon meeting? These guys are paid millions and should do the whole job of being a NBA player including talking to the media. They play a children’s game for entertainment! It’s not a scandal but hopefully not a habit he takes on either. He deserves to be called out.

@Diane B.

@Steve C. - His own reasons? Right. Keep telling yourself that. He didn’t show because he didn’t want to show. Think he would have been there if he won???

@Mark H.

@Patrick B. In this parallel, no it is not an optional meeting.

@Mark H.

@Patrick B. It’s not though. Even the article states these press availabilities are “league mandated”. He should and likely will be fined. Not the end of the world but also not optional.

@6142911

Maybe he could have been asked what he whispered to Plumlee and Biyambo as he was pulled from the game. The two then go out and commit dirty fouls on McCain by running him over from behind and then hard foul on him with knee to his head as he is hacked going in for a shot. Wemby is not the classy guy he wants you to believe he is. Still a 22 year old trying to learn to control his emotions. He was mad he got beat and was a minus 8 on the night. Grow up.

@Michael M.

He skipped it after a poor ass performance. Spurs go as Wemby goes. You can’t want the MVP and want to be claimed as the best player in the sport and then show up every other game. Stand on it

@Ian K.

If you are going to pound your chest when you win, you have to take it on the chin when you lose. Victor is young. When I was 22, I was the same way. Eager to talk my talk when everything is going well, quiet when it all blew up in my face. Life has taught me, never get to high when the good times are around and never get too low when you hit a rough patch.
I hope he learns from this day and series. Not everything is easy. To do great things, you have to do hard things. A good example is that Shai has not ducked from any responsibility, even when he hasn’t played well. That is maturity. For Victor, it will come as he grows up.

@Ed R.

@Ian K. Spot on. And one of the downsides of having a team so young is you don’t have the old head with the skins on the wall to push you to do it. (Harrison Barnes is to marginal a contributor to be that guy.)
Aliso where you miss Pop’s leadership…as he would have likely told Wemby to avoid turning a bad night on the court into an additional story going into Game 6.

@Diane B.

I’m a Warrior’s fan and have no dog in this hunt but I cannot STAND this arrogant prima donna who has done NOTHING in the NBA but thinks he’s God’s gift to the world. Pouting because he didn’t win MVP after what two years in the league?? But too much of a coward to face the same tough media questions Donovan Mitchell faced after a four game sweep? Think Mitchell wanted to be there? No, but Mitchell is a class act. Hope Spurs lose just to see Wemby boo-hoo.

@Nicholas J.

@Diane B. As a Warriors fan, you’ve surely developed mechanisms for relativizing the behaviors of utter douchebags like Draymond Green. Perhaps you could share, give Spurs fans coping strategies, to help ease their guilt over supporting a complete ass?

@Matt F.

@Diane B. What in the world are you talking about? I’ve never seen anything that says Wembanyama thinks he’s God’s gift to the world. Skipping a media session’s not a good look, but comparing him to Donovan Mitchell is just out of left field.

@Diane B.

@Nicholas J. - you mean four time world champion Draymond who has never ducked the media in his life?

@Jack S.

Wemby is the most talented basketball player alive but he also has a lot of growing up to do. When he puts it all together, he will likely win multiple titles, but I don’t think he or the Spurs are mature enough (yet) to get it done this year.

@Scott P.

@Jack S. I think they were lucky that the Wolves were so banged up!!

@6904271

@Jack S. Most talented? Think again. Bandwagons are traps.

@Patrick B.

@ name a player that can drop 30, grab 10+ boards, and cover his teammates mistakes on the defensive side while locking down his guy. Yea, he’s a unicorn that you wish was on your favorite team.

@Scott P.

Not enough elbow room?

@Samuel M.

6 rebounds at 8’5 is not good enough.

@Aaron O.

More like WAHHHmbanyama

@Nolawi A.

While I agree that it’s not a good look, this article reeks of better-than-thou passive-aggressiveness that is unwarranted. He lost and was incredibly frustrated, it makes sense he left. Don’t forget the kid is only 22, it’s an immature response befitting of his age. Let’s not make this bigger than it is.

@Jeffrey G.

@Nolawi A. Completely disagree. The only reasons players receive such high contracts is because of media dollars. Players MUST fulfill their media commitments. He will be fined a lot of money.

@Anonymous U.

I’ve noticed reporters always make a big deal when an athlete refuses to answer their questions. Stop treating this like some kind of moral failure. Issue the fine, which is the equivalent of a few bucks for most of us, and move on.

@Robert Thomas E.

He needs to grow up.

@Isaac B.

15 articles on the athletic and elsewhere about how mature he is, about how we could only wish to be like him…if you’re going to set yourself up for that PR spin then you need to take it on the chin when you have a bad game. I’m so fatigued from the endless praise when he’s still very capable of stuff like this

@3738391

@Isaac B.
Yup. Gotta be able to man up and take the bad with the good.

@Dino B.

Sulk sulk sulk. I don’t see any of the Thunder players sulking when they lose.

@kv V.

I have 0 problem with this. Hope he drops 55 next game

@10813627

@kv V. Douche

@Brendan T.

God its hardly that scandalous. He just skipped ye for 1 night. Author wrote this as hes so disappointed he didn’t get his quotes from Wemby

@Matt S.

@Brendan T. Except for the fact that it’s a clearly defined rule… it’s not like this should be a surprise to anyone

@Josh C.

I wouldn’t take to the media either if I sucked that badly

@themanebro !.

The league didn’t fine him for elbowing a dude on purpose in the neck so why should they fine him for staying silent? Wemby is the only thing that can save the nba from this nonsensical style of play and fake injuries

@Anonymous U.

@Eugene J. Flagrant 2 always comes with a fine. NBA didn’t give an extra fine after reviewing the action

@tim S.

The other side of the mirror. He’s been pumped up so high, there was bound to be changes of weather up there.
I thought his belly aching about not getting mvp was much worse, very “stop the steal” kind of attitude.
The player poll had Shai winning 83-5 over Wemby, a very distant third.

@Scott R.

Reporters, who failed to make a big deal out of Wemby not getting suspended after elbowing Naz Reid - with force - to the head/neck, are now making a big deal out of Wemby not answering their questions. The irony.

@3738391

@Scott R.
Every article I read after that game made a “big deal” out of Wembanyama elbowing Reid.
And that has nothing to do with one of the game’s star players ignoring his responsibility to talk to NBA’s fans through the media, anyway.

@Kevin B.

He should’ve talked, but since this isn’t a norm for him I’d think not doing so suggests just how frustrated he was and perhaps a concern he would’ve said something he’d regret. As long as this doesn’t become a pattern, not something to get too worked up about.

@NIck D.

His team treated him like a baby all year long. He only averaged 29 minutes per game so he was not used to playing big minutes and wore down in the playoffs. And he really hasn’t even played that much. He only played 4 of 5 games in the Blazers series and 5 of 6 games in the Wolves series with the early ejection. The playoffs are a long, tiresome battle and he obviously was not ready for the grind. Obviously he is one of the top players already but it takes more than skill to win it all.

@3738391

Not only disappeared on the court, but also disappeared after the game. His most aggressive move all night was the way he stormed past the media (and by extension, NBA fans) after the game.
Given that Wembanyama usually offers thoughtful responses to questions, it was definitely out of character for him. He must have been too embarrassed and/or frustrated to carry out his obligation this time.
You want to be the face of the league and campaign for yourself to be MVP? That’s cool. But that comes with responsibilities. Michael, Kobe, LeBron, Bird, Curry … they never dodged the press after a playoff loss.

@10950657

If he gets fined and they win game 6 there will be an article proclaiming that he was a genius.

@11990584

Reading this article and these comments, one would think a media session has never been skipped before.

@11302172

Wemby is a young guy who knows that he is amazing. That is not always a good thing because it could lead to his ego running out of control. He seems to be losing control on the court. His elbow to Reid’s face last round, his charge on Caruso a couple of games ago, his aggression and animosity towards Chet, are negative things that may not help him or his team, unless he is a 7’4” Draymond who raises his game with anger. He has no gripe about people grabbing and holding him given they he grabs and holds other players, and he got to the line plenty last night. If Wemby can’t or won’t control his emotions, then SA will have a volatile superstar on its hands and have to hold its breath about resultant suspensions. Skipping the interview is another bad sign suggesting that he is too big to have to follow the rules. His animated talk during the huddle in the 3rd quarter could be a positive or a negative, the team responded well but then faltered. I hope SA has invested in a sports psychologist for him.

@6904271

Big baby

via The Athletic