Jose Alvarado Speaks on Victor Wembanyama Storming Off Court After NBA Finals

The New York Knicks won the 2026 NBA Championship, and after a dramatic series, all the emotions started to settle in. The Knicks went through a series in which they came back from a double-digit deficit in each win and matched the intense physicality the San Antonio Spurs brought. 

After the Knicks' Game 5 win that clinched the series, Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs drew some attention after refusing to shake hands with the Knicks once the series concluded. 

Knicks guard Jose Alvarado shared his thoughts on the Spurs' act after Game 5, and he said he had mixed emotions but did want to greet the Spurs no matter what. 

Alvarado did give credit to the Spurs and Victor Wembanyama specifically for the way they competed throughout the series. The Finals featured five games that went down to the wire, and the series was much closer than the end result indicated. 

Wembanyama finished the Finals averaging 26 points per game, 11.6 rebounds, 3.2 blocks, and 2.6 assists. He was the clear leader of the Spurs on and off the court, and he brought as much intensity as he could in each game. 

He was all over the court, and there were times when he would try to get in the Knicks players' heads with his chippy play style. Wembanyama made multiple plays that caused the Knicks to push and shove him in between plays, and he even committed a flagrant foul on Jalen Brunson in Game 4. 

It wasn't just Wembanyama committing hard fouls and getting under the Knicks' skin. Luke Kornet, Stephon Castle, and others were also playing very physically and caused some tempers to flare. 

Jose Alvarado himself was a victim of one of Victor Wembanyama's tactics to distract the Knicks from the game itself. In Game 4, Wembanyama was getting chippy with Alvarado, provoking him to lift Wembanyama by the leg and tripping him. 

Many were shocked at the fact that the play wasn't called for a flagrant foul, but that was the nature of the series from both sides. Both teams were playing with a high level of physicality to the point where the referees let them play that way, not calling as many fouls as they could have. 

Through all the mind games, Jose Alvarado and the Knicks maintained a healthy respect for the Spurs as opponents and wanted to express their sportsmanship. Unfortunately for them, that was not fulfilled, and there is still no reason revealed as to why the Spurs didn't greet the Knicks at the end.