Victor Wembanyama downplayed the villain treatment he received during the San Antonio Spurs’ 119-98 road loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night. According to the Frenchman, it was more hostile to play in other places than at Paycom Center.
“I don’t think there’s too much that has changed from the previous games. They know what they are doing, and they did it well,” Wembanyama said during the postgame press conference. “The crowd… this is okay.”
“It didn’t feel like that. Of course, I hear the booing. I heard one f**k you, but it was just one, you know what I mean? I think it’s been more than that in other places. From the court, it felt like it wasn’t automatic (the hostile treatment from the crowd), but once we got some calls, it got louder,” he continued.
Wembanyama started for the San Antonio Spurs for the second straight game and produced 17 points and seven rebounds on 7-for-15 shooting from the field in 28 minutes of action. He got a bit banged up when he collided knees with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and tweaked his ankle after landing awkwardly on Jaylin Williams, but he managed to finish the game.
San Antonio Spurs News: Mitch Johnson was asked about Victor Wembanyama’s villain arc vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Mitch Johnson addressed Victor Wembanyama’s “villain” role against the Thunder due to his brewing rivalry with Chet Holmgren, and the San Antonio Spurs head coach highlighted his young star’s mental toughness.
“I think it was his rookie year. We were in Madison Square Garden, and they were chanting ‘Overrated!’ and we had a tough game. We played them not too long after that on Christmas Day, and he did okay,” Johnson said of Wembanyama.
“Yeah, there’s so much narrative around Victor. I think he’s proven at a young age that he’s pretty comfortable in his own skin,” he added. “So to me, that was a pretty good symbolism of (how he handles hostile crowds). I think he embraces all of it appropriately without putting too much energy or overdoing it.”
