"That's our alien!": Victor Wembanyama fires up San Antonio ahead of NBA Finals

San Antonio – 3 June 2026: The NBA Finals are about to begin: the San Antonio Spurs will face the New York Knicks. The focal figure is Victor Wembanyama, the 22-year-old French player who in his third NBA season has led the Spurs to the Finals for the first time since 2014. In the Western Conference Finals, Wembanyama averaged 27.3 points and 10.9 rebounds per game and was unanimously chosen as the series’ most valuable player.

In San Antonio, Wembanyama has long become an idol. Fans welcomed him enthusiastically and gave him the nickname “our alien”—in recognition of his extraordinary abilities on the court. His presence and talent are seen as key to the Spurs’ success, and many expect him to grow into the team’s future leader.

The New York Knicks, meanwhile, rely on two other French rookies: Mohamed Diarra and Pacome Dadiet. The 20-year-old Diarra was selected in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft and has established himself on the Knicks’ wing. The former Paris Basketball and Ratiopharm Ulm player averaged 1.7 points and 0.9 rebounds per game this season.

Also 20, Dadiet joined the Knicks with the 25th pick in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft. At 2.06 meters tall and a former Ratiopharm Ulm player, he has injected fresh energy into the Knicks, although his current stats are 0.4 points and 0.6 rebounds per game.

These French players have become the emblem of the 2026 NBA Finals, symbolizing the rise of French basketball on the international stage. The Spurs vs. Knicks matchup is not only a sporting contest but also showcases the cultural connections between the two teams.

The Finals will tip off Wednesday night at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio. The Spurs hold a slight advantage with home-court, while the Knicks rely on the momentum of 11 consecutive playoff wins.

Preparations in San Antonio are already in full swing: the city decorations have been refreshed, and the “Spurs Coyote” hardcore fan group has announced its support for the team. Their passion and energy could have a decisive impact on the Finals.

The 2026 NBA Finals are not only a high-level basketball spectacle but also a symbol of the growing influence of French players in the NBA—a contest of major sporting and cultural significance.