Victor Wembanyama earns ‘special’ praise from Knicks legend after Spurs Finals loss

As an official team ambassador for the New York Knicks, Patrick Ewing attended every NBA Finals game – including all three in San Antonio. Even if he wasn’t still an employee of the franchise, he might’ve still attended every contest. Such is life for perhaps the greatest Knick of all-time. Following the organization’s championship-clinching victory over the San Antonio Spurs, Ewing shared his thoughts on the Silver and Black’s phenom, Victor Wembanyama, while discussing a couple of topics.

Ewing played during a stretch that very well may serve as the greatest ever for big men in NBA history. Through the second half of the 1980’s, he shared the stage with incomparable Houston Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon. At the turn of the decade, San Antonio Spurs marvel David Robinson joined the fray. Just a couple of years later, the larger-than-life Shaquille O’Neal burst onto the scene. Toward the end of Ewing’s career, Tim Duncan ascended toward the top of the league.

Given his proximity to and familiarity with legendary bigs, ClutchPoints asked Ewing for his thoughts on Wemby.

“I love him. I love him. I think he’s special,” Ewing declared. “All the things that I’ve seen, I think he is special. I think he’s going to have a tremendous career.”

In his first NBA Finals, Wembanyama averaged 26 points, 11.2 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks per game.

Had a chance to visit w/#Knicks legend Patrick Ewing…

On Victor Wembanyama:
"I love him."

On beating the #Spurs:
"The last time…Tim and David were having a party against us, (now) it's ours…"

"In '99, I had tears of sorrow, today I have tears of joy"

Full conversation pic.twitter.com/Aqy5fGeB5O

— Hector Ledesma (@HectorLedesmaTV) June 14, 2026

Ewing loved seeing the Knicks avenge Finals loss to Spurs

In beating San Antonio, New York won the second match-up between the two storied franchises on the ultimate stage.

“The last time we were here, Tim and David was having a party against us, but (now) it’s ours,” Ewing told ClutchPoints, alluding to the 1999 NBA Finals.

The former Georgetown Hoya was unable to play in that series because of an injury sustained earlier in the playoffs as the Knicks became the first-ever eighth seed to advance to the Finals. Though he’s in a role different now, Ewing told CP that he considers the 2026 Knicks championship the equalizer.

“Oh, it definitely makes up for it,” Ewing declared. “They got us back then, and we able to get them now.”

Ewing rejoices in New York’s title

Ewing is the Knicks’ all-time leader in points, rebounds, and games played among many other categories. Perennially in the playoffs, his teams qualified for two NBA Finals. Neither was able to take the Larry O’Brien trophy back to the Big Apple for the first time since 1973. The franchise hadn’t returned to basketball’s biggest stage since that 1999 match-up against San Antonio.

“It has been a long time coming,” Ewing admitted. “The last time we were here in ’99, I had tears of sorrow. (Now), I have tears of joy. It’s a dream come true. We have had this goal, myself as a player, myself as part of the organization; we’ve had the dream of getting to this point and winning the championship. We finally have achieved it.”

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