Some of the actions that Victor Wembanyama took in the playoffs this year made people think that he is a dirty player, but former NBA champion Matt Barnes begs to differ.
Wemby has been somewhat of an NBA hero for his hoops morale, but we’ve seen a different side to him, especially in the Knicks series.
He made some really dangerous mistakes, especially one on Jalen Brunson where he covered his throat.
He also skipped the media availability after the loss and didn’t shake the Knicks hans when he won the chip.
However, Barnes is with French.
“People have been shooting him a lot this year,” said Barnes in All The Smoke about Wembanyama. I just think you got to the point, at the end of the season, I’m tired… If you’re going to shoot me with an elbow, and I’m going to beat Brunson. I want that from my star.”
Let’s not forget that Wembanyama is from Europe and the style of basketball here is very compatible with what made Barnes’ argument go forward.
“[Wembanyama] he’s been an NBA player since he was in the league,” Barnes said. “Then the playoffs come around and it’s almost like the rest of the media turns on everyone and tries to promote everything he has and hasn’t done.
“Then I heard he didn’t shake hands after the game. Wemby is an emotional man.”
He added, “Wemby wears his heart on his sleeve. Going back, he’s just another ust right now. I think there might be a little bit of a barrier between him coming from somewhere else and our expectations in our culture of how people, stars, should act and what they should and shouldn’t do. But I don’t think he gives an af-k about at the end of the day.”
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