With 11.8 seconds left in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, Victor Wembanyama had the ball in his hands and a chance to win it for the San Antonio Spurs. The 7’4″ center rose up for a shot, but missed, sealing the Spurs’ 105-104 loss to the New York Knicks, according to Sports Illustrated.

Missed Opportunity in Final Seconds

Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said Wembanyama took a “good shot,” but the outcome was clear — the Knicks had won. Wembanyama, for his part, acknowledged the importance of the moment. “I liked the shot … I just need to score. That’s the whole point,” he said.

The Spurs had built a nine-point lead in the first quarter, with 18 points in the paint, but the Knicks rallied behind Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, and Jalen Brunson. By halftime, New York had taken a four-point lead, and the Knicks led by nine at the end of the third quarter. However, the Spurs clawed back, and the game was tied with six minutes left.

Wembanyama Acknowledges Team’s Inexperience

After the loss, Wembanyama took full accountability for his mistakes, including the game-tying turnover with 13 seconds left. In a press conference, he called the Spurs a team of “spoiled kids” who haven’t learned to appreciate the gravity of the Finals yet, according to Sports Illustrated.

“We’re kind of like spoiled kids. For some of us, it’s our first season,or one of our first seasons,and we’re already in the Finals. We don’t fully realize it yet. And to me, the team that appreciates the position we’re in the most will be the one that wins,” Wembanyama said, via a translation on Reddit.

His comments echoed a sentiment he made before Game 2, when he also described his team as “spoiled.” This candidness has only added to the growing admiration for the young star, who finished the game with 29 points, nine rebounds, and four blocks.

Knicks’ Resilience and Wembanyama’s Hard Spill

The Knicks’ resilience was on full display, with Towns struggling in the fourth quarter and Brunson managing just seven points on 3-of-9 shooting. Despite Wembanyama’s 29 points, the Spurs were unable to maintain their lead in the final minutes.

Victor Wembanyama’s hard spill in the closing moments of the game has sparked both criticism and empathy. His mature response and self-awareness have made him even more likable among fans and analysts alike.