It would not be the first or the last time that an athlete breaks down in tears after losing a final, but the sadness of Victor Wembanyama after the defeat of the San Antonio Spurs in Las Vegas before New York Knicks in the decisive game of the NBA Cup They have another explanation: The French pivot’s grandmother died on Tuesday morning and he went out to play the game with that pain on his back.
As best he could, Wemby sat in the press room to answer the journalists’ questions but the emotion was stronger and did not allow him to talk about the game. “I’m sorry, I lost someone today,” he managed to say with a broken voice. It was later confirmed that hours before the game, the 21-year-old Spurs star learned of the sad family news coming from France.
The real reason for Wembanyama’s tears after the NBA Cup final
Of the flesh reached the final of the NBA Cup 2025 with little filming after a month of absence for a calf tear. The Frenchman had already returned from the bench for the semi-final against Oklahoma City Thunder and the idea for the game against the Knicks was the same, that he add minutes from the bench.
The Frenchman contributed 18 points, 6 rebounds and 2 blocks in 25 minutes on the court, although the lack of competitive rhythm and certain inaccuracy in the shot were noted. He had a moment of lucidity in the third quarter, scoring 10 points in a row that made him look like he was headed for MVP pre-injury, before the Spurs went under.
“I guess it’s the best possible practice for important matches, because our focus is already on the playoffswhich is the biggest time of the year. “It’s good to have had this experience,” Wembanyama analyzed after the final when he managed to recover from the lump in his throat due to the death of his grandmother.
Victor Wembanyama, figure of the San Antonio Spurs.
Jalen Brunson, 2025 NBA Cup MVP
Jalen Brunson was chosen MVP of the tournament. Today, closely watched by the Spurs players, he contributed 25 points and 8 assistsafter having signed 40 in the semifinals against the Orlando Magic and 35 in the quarterfinals against the Toronto Raptors.
“OG Anunoby, Tyler Kolek, Jordan Clarkson and Mitchell Robinson They went out of their way tonight. Without them, we wouldn’t have won this shit, we wouldn’t have won this. They left everything on the field,” Brunson said after receiving the award.
Jalen Brunson, top figure of the Knicks in the 2025 NBA Cup.
AND Anunoby He was New York’s leading scorer with 28 points and 9 rebounds.
Especially decisive in that final stretch of the third and last quarter was Mitchell Robinsonwho entered after the medical attention he received Karl-Anthony Towns on the bench
New York Knicks champions of the NBA Cup 2025.
Robinson grabbed 15 rebounds, 10 of them offensive, excellent work under the basket that gave the Knicks second and third chances in their attacks.
Knicks dominated the rebound 67-56, with a 34-18 in the second half.
Towns had a double-double with 16 points and 11 reboundswhile substitutes Jordan Clarkson and Tyler Kolek contributed 15 and 14 points, respectively. Thus, the Knicks put an end to a long drought without titles that had already lasted 53 years and weighed on the shoulders of the New York franchise.
