Overview
- Jose Alvarado said he has “mixed emotions” about Victor Wembanyama not shaking Knicks players’ hands and called the gesture “a little too crazy” while praising Wembanyama’s competitiveness during games.
- Wembanyama walked off the court after the series without shaking the Knicks’ hands, an action that drew criticism from fans and commentators.
- Jalen Brunson’s decision to approach Spurs coach Mitch Johnson and then embrace his father Rick Brunson provided a direct contrast to Wembanyama’s postgame behavior.
- Alvarado is a New York native who was traded to the Knicks midseason and will start his first full season with the team in 2026–27, and his high-school coach Joe Arbitello publicly expressed strong pride during the Finals run.
- The player-level comments add pressure to a wider media narrative about sportsmanship and could shape how Wembanyama is perceived and how he approaches his offseason response.