Thousands passed through the hallways from the San Antonio Spurs’ locker room to the Madison Square Garden interview room after Game 3, where Victor Wembanyama reflected on his first NBA Finals victory. He walked into the interview area barefoot — “He always likes to walk barefoot so he can really feel the ground,” longtime agent Bouna Ndiaye said — while a Spurs staffer held his size 21 slides nearby.
The Spurs have relied on routines and structure throughout these playoffs, sticking with the rotation except for injury-related changes. Wembanyama has missed one game this postseason and De’Aaron Fox missed two, with no other starting lineup alterations, a consistency the team credits for its ability to rally from early series deficits.
San Antonio’s staff also makes targeted game-to-game adjustments to maximize Wembanyama depending on opponents’ plans. “When you get into series, you got to settle in,” coach Mitch Johnson said, noting the clarity that comes from tape study and staff discussions. Johnson cited that approach as a major reason the Spurs have not lost more than two consecutive games all season.
In Game 3, the Spurs shifted Wembanyama away from guarding Minnesota’s Karl-Anthony Towns at times to conserve his energy for offense, where they encouraged him to attack inside and pressure the Knicks. The team planned to carry that approach into Game 4 at Madison Square Garden, scheduled for Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC and the ESPN app.
Off the court, Wembanyama has maintained a habit of seeking quiet outdoor spaces in the cities where the Spurs play. He was filmed in New York sitting on a small park bench, focused on drawing a sculpture, and had been allowed into Gramercy Park — an exclusive private park with only a few hundred keys in circulation. One source close to him said he has taken similar walks in Oklahoma City’s Botanical Garden, and those who know him say he often finds nearby parks or outdoor spaces during road trips.
