Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs stunned the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals, advancing to the NBA Finals ahead of expectations before ultimately losing to the New York Knicks in five games.
The Spurs took the loss hard, as they held a double-digit lead in all five games. Following the Knicks’ title-clinching 94-90 victory in Game 5, Wembanyama and the Spurs didn’t shake hands with Knicks’ players, which has since drawn heavy scrutiny.
Former NBA Champions Richard Jefferson, Robert Horry Defend Victor Wembanyama and Spurs
This experience offered valuable lessons for Wembanyama and the Spurs. Given their double-digit leads in each game and the series’ competitiveness, the Spurs seem poised to be a perennial contender and get back to this stage again in the future.
Despite some mistakes and mental lapses, Wembanyama still had an impressive Finals debut, as he averaged 26.0 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 3.6 blocks per game.
Spurs center Luke Kornet shook hands with the Knicks after the Game 5 loss, but Wembanyama and his teammates walked off the floor without addressing the opposing players. Fans, analysts, and even some fellow players like Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green called out Wembanyama for this unsportsmanlike move.
However, two former NBA champions are coming to Wembanyama’s defense: seven-time champ Robert Horry and 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers champion Richard Jefferson. Horry won two titles with San Antonio in 2005 and 2007 in addition to his championships with the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets.
Horry, in particular, expressed complete understanding of Wembanyama’s reaction.
“People get mad at athletes when they don’t shake hands. When you go back and you start [looking at] the 2000s and back, nobody shake hands. We didn’t care. We just lost. We don’t want to talk to you,” Horry said. “So when people are like, ‘That’s just not sportsmanship!’ I’m mad in the moment. I just got my a** whooped. I’m not trying to be friends with nobody who kicked my a**. So, I don’t understand the everybody that never played a sport get so upset, ‘Oh, he didn’t shake his hand.’ I just lost, I don’t want to talk right now.”
Robert Horry says he don’t understand why people get so upset about Spurs not shaking hands after the loss:
“People get mad at athletes when they don’t shake hands, when you go back and you start the 2000s back nobody shake hands we didn’t care we just lost we don’t want to talk… pic.twitter.com/pKjn0SPCBf
— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) June 15, 2026
To emphasize this perspective, Horry explained that players are often advised to take some time and cool off before addressing the media.
“They tell us in the locker room to take a minute before you speak, because you don’t want to speak out of anger,” Horry explained. “I’m cool if they don’t shake hands, and I’m cool if they do. But me? I ain’t shaking your hand. I’m mad. I walked off the court. Now, I didn’t lose much, but I’m just saying!”
Jefferson echoed this view, stating that he does not see any real issue with leaving the court.
“It is very sportsmanlike to do it, but it’s not unsportsmanlike to not do it,” Jefferson said.
It’s worth noting that four-time NBA All-Star DeMarcus Cousins also defended Wembanyama.
“I’m not mad at him… Let’s not take away the fact that this is a 22-year-old kid,” Cousins explained. “We’ve all done immature things in how we handle losses… I don’t understand why we expect him to be perfect.”
Boogie Cousins is NOT mad at Wemby for not shaking hands after the NBA Finals 🤝
“The Knicks are about to celebrate their moment. … He’s not the first person to not shake hands! … I don’t understand why we expect him to be perfect.”@MichelleDBeadle | @boogiecousins pic.twitter.com/jMwbL9z0Hi
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) June 15, 2026
“The Knicks are about to celebrate their moment, so you kind of get out of the way,” Cousins added.
This tendency to expect perfection from athletes is prevalent among fans and the media. Wembanyama is still very young, so he should continue to mature and learn from his experiences, but it sounds like he has a number of players on his side this time.
