“It was quick. I think we let that one go” was all Victor Wembanyama said when asked when he and the Spurs felt the game “slipping” away from them.
After all the talk about how emotional Wemby has been throughout the postseason, he sure was calm after the Game 1 loss. This press conference was a departure from the norm for Victor Wembanyama. Like most players, Wembanyama seems to not revel in the postgame presser. Perhaps in an attempt to make him comfortable; perhaps as an accommodation for his height, adjustments are made to the conference room before he enters. The press table is completely cleared, and a wireless microphone is set for him. Wemby prefers going handheld.
When asked a question, there is usually a pause before he answers. Whether he is internalizing the question, translating his response in his head before speaking, or trying out different versions of an answer to find the most relevant, it’s one of the main identifying characteristics of a Wembanyama presser.
None of that was present Wednesday night. Instead, Wemby sat upright as he faced the media, answering questions with an easy manner, as if he knew what would be asked and had crafted the answers beforehand. His confidence was evident, and as he discussed elements of the game that were unsuccessful, Victor didn’t sound the least bit disheartened.
“We let them get an offensive rebound,” Wembanyama stated about a specific moment in the fourth quarter run that secured the game for the Knicks. “So that’s on us. After that, that’s an experienced team, they know how to play with momentum. We had the momentum until late in that game. That’s why I said we let that one go.”
The Spurs, after being criticized for their inexperience, have made adjustments this postseason and persevered as a result. As they have overcome one obstacle after another, resilience has been the antidote to inexperience. As the playoff rounds have progressed and the opponents have changed, Wembanyama’s growth as the Spurs leader has developed in real time.
As the press conference continued, it was as if Wembanyama’s calm had been transfused into the rest of the team. Though they had just lost a Finals game, they seemed upbeat. Not a moment or expression of head-hanging or self deprecation. Every Spur who took the stand carried themselves with an awareness that while this series wouldn’t be easy, the challenge New York offered was not insurmountable. Dylan Harper, Stephon Castle, and Devin Vassell each echoed Wemby’s manner, revealing just how tight the team is and how much faith they have in their superstar.
“It’s almost not like I have anything to figure out. It’s almost like I have to play normal, not even good,” Wembanyama said. “It’s just like doing the right thing is enough. When we play bad, when I play bad, is when we shoot ourselves in the foot. This is why I’m not worried. We’re going to be so much better. I’m going to be so much better.”
If the Spurs overcame the West riding Wembanyama’s emotional high, perhaps they will follow his serenity back into this series.
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