Victor Wembanyama spoke to the media after San Antonio’s 134-132 victory over the New York Knicks, expressing optimism despite leaving the court with a left knee hyperextension. “Feeling good. Feeling great about the win… just sore. Very confident,” he said.
The 7-foot-4 center explained the injury occurred while contesting an offensive rebound over Karl-Anthony Towns. “I know when it hurt, but it was just a hyperextension, so it should be minimal,” Wembanyama said, adding he expects to play in the next game.
Wembanyama praised his teammates’ mental toughness during the close contest. “From the locker room, I saw these guys being very strong mentally. It wasn’t a game that was given to us; they had to go and get it. Julian obviously was amazing,” he said, referring to Julian Champagnie’s career-high 36 points.
The French superstar highlighted the energy of Keldon Johnson and the Spurs’ fans in the final minutes. “It was really cool to see the energy of Keldon at the end and the fans being behind us,” he said.
He also addressed the team’s depth and resilience. “It just shows how resourceful these guys are… whenever one of us is out or not making shots, somebody will take their place and hold everybody to the standard,” Wembanyama explained.
Wembanyama reflected on his role in motivating fans despite the injury scare. “I just told them they’ll be all right,” he said, referring to reassuring the crowd while limping toward the locker room.
The Spurs star briefly discussed his routine during late-game free throws. “I like it… it’s great support. The fans chanting doesn’t bother me,” he said, adding he enjoys the moments that come with being in MVP discussions.
Despite limited minutes due to the injury, Wembanyama finished with 31 points and 13 rebounds in 24 minutes, making his 300th career 3-pointer in 138 games—the fastest among 7-footers. His presence helped San Antonio maintain momentum after a 17-2 Knicks run following his exit.
Wembanyama concluded by emphasizing confidence in his recovery and the team’s outlook. “I was confident. I was about to come back into the game, but they had to hold me back… We’re going to do everything tomorrow to check that everything’s okay,” he said.
