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Story perspectives

Wembanyama exits Finals, vows “never” after dominant yet shaky performance.

6/16/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Victor Wembanyama left the court without post-game handshakes and closed his press conference with “See y’all … never.”
He averaged 27.8 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.3 blocks in the Finals and was third in MVP voting.
He played 39.8 minutes per game, shot 34.5% in fourth quarters and went 3-for-14 in the final minutes of the last two games.

History

Historical Context

Michael Jordan’s 1998 Finals win over the Utah Jazz drew a record 18.7 Nielsen rating and marked the last NBA championship without a California, Florida or Texas team until 2021. The series’ iconic drama set a precedent for intense post-game scrutiny, a legacy echoed in Victor Wembanyama’s 2024 Finals clash, where the league tightened handshake and media protocols.

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Story summary

Victor Wembanyama left the court without post-game handshakes and closed his press conference with “See y’all … never.”
He averaged 27.8 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.3 blocks in the Finals and was third in MVP voting.
He played 39.8 minutes per game, shot 34.5% in fourth quarters and went 3-for-14 in the final minutes of the last two games.

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