Victor Wembanyama Gives Magic Johnson a Reason to Bring Up Lakers History
Victor Wembanyama gave Magic Johnson a reason to look back into Lakers history after the San Antonio Spurs finally got themselves on the board in the NBA Finals. After dropping the first two games to the New York Knicks, San Antonio responded with a huge Game 3 win to cut the series deficit to 2-1 and keep its title hopes alive.
Wembanyama was at the center of it all, delivering the kind of all-around performance that made Magic take notice. The Lakers legend praised Wemby's numbers, his poise, and the way he carried the Spurs on the road, while pointing out that the young star had entered rare territory usually reserved for some of the game's biggest names.
Following the game Johnson said, "I was in awe of Victor Wembanyama's performance tonight - not only did he score 32 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists, he also became the 2nd youngest player to have 30, 5 and 5 in the victory over the Knicks on their home court (behind some kid who played for the Lakers).
I was in awe of Victor Wembanyama's performance tonight - not only did he score 32 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists, he also became the 2nd youngest player to have 30, 5 and 5 in the victory over the Knicks on their home court (behind some kid who played for the Lakers)
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) June 9, 2026
The…
The entire Spurs team deserves a lot of credit for believing they could win and coming out and executing their game plan. They couldn't have won without help from Castle, who stepped up tonight with 23 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists - and four other Spurs ended in double figures: Harper scored 13 points, Champagnie and Fox had 12 points, and Vassell finished with 11."
The "kid who played for the Lakers" Johnson is referring to is Johnson himself.
Game 3 felt like the night the San Antonio Spurs finally stopped letting the Finals happen to them.
After two frustrating losses, San Antonio came into Madison Square Garden with no room to drift through possessions or wait for momentum to arrive. The New York Knicks had the crowd, the series lead, and a chance to push the matchup toward dangerous territory. Instead, the Spurs played with the urgency of a team that understood exactly what was at stake.
Victor Wembanyama set the tone with his most complete performance of the series. He attacked with more purpose, found teammates when New York sent pressure, and protected the rim when the game tightened late. His 32 points mattered, but so did the way he controlled the mood of the Spurs.
San Antonio also got the kind of support it needed. Stephon Castle gave them a major lift, Dylan Harper brought important minutes, and De'Aaron Fox hit one of the biggest shots of the night when the Knicks were trying to steal the game back.
For New York, the energy was there, but the finish was not. Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby kept them in it, yet the Knicks became sloppy with the ball and could not find enough clean offense in the fourth quarter.
The result does not erase New York's advantage, but it does change the feeling of the series. The Spurs proved they can win in the Garden, and Wembanyama reminded everyone why San Antonio is not finished yet.
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This story was originally published June 8, 2026 at 9:49 PM.