By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The thrilling road victory in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals did much more than just send the San Antonio Spurs to the championship series of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google. It ignited a fierce debate on the nature of championship mentality.
As the final buzzer sounded, Victor Wembanyama let the weight of the moment wash over him. The 22-year-old French phenomenon instantly became emotional, crying and hugging it out with his teammates after surviving a grueling seven-game clash to dethrone the defending champions. Wemby was subsequently named Most Valuable Player of the West Finals, receiving the Magic Johnson Trophy in a unanimous result.
While the basketball world largely celebrated the raw passion of a young superstar leading a young roster to the Finals, Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett was far less impressed. The former season MVP and champion ripped the Le Chesnay native for crying it out, offering harsh criticism on the latest episode of his Ticket and the Truth podcast.
“The Alien got to go through some heartache to be able to tell the fairy tale Hallmark card story. You understand? He got to go through some bulls–t. He’s crying in the motherf—g Western Conference Finals? That was too emotional for me,” Garnett claimed. “He’s got four more games to try to get. You’ve got to go through the Finals now.”
Doubling down on his belief that the Spurs’ emotional outpouring signaled they aren’t quite ready, believing that the younger team will struggle to refocus, the former Boston Celtics and Minnesota Timberwolves great made a bold prediction for the upcoming matchup against the New York Knicks, firmly picking against the betting favorites from San Antonio. “Give me the Knicks in six,” he predicted.
The ultimate response to Garnett’s criticism will begin on the court, as Game 1 of the best-of-seven series will be held in San Antonio’s Frost Bank Center on Wednesday.
NBA Playoffs 2026
Eastern Conference
Quarterfinals (best-of-seven)
Detroit Pistons – Orlando Magic 4-3 (101-112, 98-83, 105-113, 88-94, 116-109, 93-79, 116-94)
Cleveland Cavaliers – Toronto Raptors 4-3 (126-113, 115-105, 104-126, 89-93, 125-120, 110-112, 114-102)
New York Knicks – Atlanta Hawks 4-2 (113-102, 106-107, 108-109, 114-98, 126-97, 140-89)
Boston Celtics – Philadelphia 76ers 3-4 (123-91, 97-111, 108-100, 128-96, 97-113, 93-106, 100-109)
Semifinals (best-of-seven)
Detroit Pistons – Cleveland Cavaliers 3-4 (111-101, 107-97, 109-116, 103-112, 113-117, 115-94, 94-125)
New York Knicks – Philadelphia 76ers 4-0 (137-98, 108-102, 108-94, 144-114)
Finals (best-of-seven)
New York Knicks – Cleveland Cavaliers 4-0 (115-104, 109-93, 121-108, 130-93)
Western Conference
Quarterfinals (best-of-seven)
Oklahoma City Thunder – Phoenix Suns 4-0 (119-84, 120-107, 121-109, 131-122)
Los Angeles Lakers – Houston Rockets 4-2 (107-98, 101-94, 112-108, 96-115, 93-99, 98-78)
Denver Nuggets – Minnesota Timberwolves 2-4 (126-115, 114-119, 96-113, 96-112, 125-113, 98-110)
San Antonio Spurs – Portland Trail Blazers 4-1 (111-98, 103-106, 120-108, 114-93, 114-95)
Semifinals (best-of-seven)
Oklahoma City Thunder – Los Angeles Lakers 4-0 (108-90, 125-107, 131-108, 115-110)
San Antonio Spurs – Minnesota Timberwolves 4-2 (102-104, 133-95, 115-108, 109-114, 126-97, 139-109)
Finals (best-of-seven)
Oklahoma City Thunder – San Antonio Spurs 3-4 (115-122, 122-113, 123-108, 82-103, 127-114, 91-118, 103-111)
NBA Finals 2026 (best-of-seven)
San Antonio Spurs – New York Knicks
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