Victor Wembanyama was locked in to begin Saturday’s Game 5 NBA Finals clash against the New York Knicks. With the San Antonio Spurs trailing the series 3-1 and on the brink of elimination, the superstar center delivered a monster defensive effort in the first half.
Wembanyama also refused to let his former Spurs teammate, Jeremy Sochan, get in his head, with his stone-cold reaction to the Knicks forward’s trash talk going viral.
NBA World Reacts As Victor Wembanyama ‘Brushes Off’ Jeremy Sochan in Knicks-Spurs Game 5
Facing a must-win situation, Wembanyama imposed himself defensively early, suffocating New York’s offense with his rim protection, closeouts, and rotations. The 7-foot-4 French phenom recorded a staggering 5 blocks as San Antonio held the Knicks to just 13-for-44 first-half shooting (29.5%) en route to a 42-37 halftime lead.
Sochan, who has seldom seen the court during the Finals, did his best to get under Wembanyama’s skin in the first quarter, trash-talking and bumping into his ex-teammate as the sides headed to their benches for a timeout.
Wembanyama appeared unfazed, as he continued walking with his hands on his hips, not even acknowledging Sochan, whom the two-time All-Star spent two-plus seasons alongside before he was waived and signed with New York in February.
Jeremy Sochan trash talking Wemby. Be careful 👀 pic.twitter.com/vV4CMJW15A
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) June 14, 2026
The moment set the NBA community on X abuzz, with many highlighting Wembanyama’s composure.
“Wemby gave his former teammate Jeremy Sochan the cold shoulder,” Yahoo Sports captioned the run-in.
Wemby gave his his former teammate Jeremy Sochan the cold shoulder 👀 pic.twitter.com/wOq9rqR343
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) June 14, 2026
“Victor Wembanyama walking by Jeremy Sochan and acting like he doesn’t exist,” content creator Ahmed/The Ears wrote.
Victor Wembanyama walking by Jeremy Sochan and acting like he doesn’t exist pic.twitter.com/ztfgfmxEPZ
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) June 14, 2026
“Sochan, former Spur, trying to start s**t with Wemby. Wemby just brushes him off,” analyst John Frascella reacted.
Sochan, former Spur
Trying to start shit with Wemby
Wemby just brushes him off. pic.twitter.com/skKmy3g1FG
— John Frascella (Football) (@NFLFrascella) June 14, 2026
“Victor Wembanyama walked right past Jeremy Sochan like he wasn’t even there,” Raphouse TV observed.
Victor Wembanyama walked right past Jeremy Sochan like he wasn’t even there. 😭🏀 pic.twitter.com/inQGTy9w6t
— Raphousetv (RHTV) (@raphousetv2) June 14, 2026
“As he should. That’s the only time Sochan will be on the court tonight. 💀,” The Athletic’s James Boyd quipped.
As he should. That’s the only time Sochan will be on the court tonight. 💀 https://t.co/SpRrE0rso1
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) June 14, 2026
While Sochan has logged only three minutes in the Finals, he has provided the Knicks with invaluable intel about how to contain Wembanyama.
“Whether I’m playing or not, it’s important to feed all the information I have,” Sochan told The New York Post’s Jared Schwartz.
“Being that tall, [Wembanyama] gets tired. Give him different looks and be very physical and make him run, and he’s gonna get tired, he’s gonna have to take some plays off.”
Sochan’s input appears to have paid off, as New York entered Game 5 just one victory away from its first title since 1973.
