Victor Wembanyama’s first NBA Finals ended in disappointment as the San Antonio Spurs fell 94-90 to the New York Knicks in Game 5, sealing the title for New York.
After the game, the Frenchman tried to put the defeat into perspective, saying: “One of the things I learned is: the margin is very thin. We absolutely dominated for most of the series, but our mistakes are punished so hard that we can’t have ups and downs like this.”
That remark about San Antonio “dominating” most of the series quickly drew attention. Dave Portnoy was one of the well-known basketball personalities to push back, and he made his feelings clear on X.
Dave Portnoy blasts Victor Wembanyama after Spurs lose NBA Finals
The Barstool Sports founder reacted to Wembanyama’s comments by writing: “This f—— guy… You were a mouse when it mattered every game.”
It was a brutal response, and it landed because Wembanyama’s final game did not match the scale of the moment. He still finished with 19 points and 14 rebounds, but shot only 37% from the field.
The Spurs also had a different leading scorer that night. Rookie Dylan Harper scored 25 points, giving San Antonio a major lift while Wembanyama struggled to take full control offensively.
That context explains why Portnoy took aim at the “dominated” claim. The Knicks won the series 4-1, and Jalen Brunson’s 45 points in Game 5 gave New York the closer that San Antonio could not find in various moments of the series.
Even so, Portnoy’s wording was harsh. Wembanyama was still the Spurs’ main offensive force across the Finals, averaging 26 points per game in the series, according to StatMuse.
Game 5 exposed the gap between promise and execution, but it did not erase Wembanyama’s importance.
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