Victor Wembanyama won't apologize for crying on court after first playoff series win: 'Refuse to carry the burden'

Victor Wembanyama suffered a concussion in Game 2 of the Spurs' opening round series against the Trail Blazers. After a one-game absence, Wembanyama was back on the court for Games 4 and 5. When the 22-year-old sensation helped to clinch his first playoff series win, he was brought to tears.

But just as quickly as fans remarked about his eye-popping skills, they also criticized his outward show of emotion. Wembanyama has shown similar emotion in other games this season, including against the Clippers on March 6. 

That being said, Wembanyama will not be apologizing for this or acting in a certain manner for particular viewers. Here's what to know about Wembanyama's reaction to the criticism.

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Why Victor Wembanyama won't apologize for crying on court

The day after the Spurs' Game 5 victory, Wembanyama was asked about his reaction to fans' criticism of his tears. 

“That’s a tough question. I think it’s first and foremost a fear of judgment,” he told L’Équipe reporter Maxime Aubin. “Like this feeling that you have to act a certain way, social codes, I guess. Personally, I refuse to carry the burden of having to hide my emotions.”

San Antonio's 4-1 series win over Portland marks the first playoff experience for Wembanyama at the NBA level in his three seasons with the Spurs.

During his Rookie of the Year campaign, Wembanyama struggled to lift the team to greater heights, with the Spurs finishing 22-60, just one game above last place in the Western Conference. 

The next year, Wembanyama struggled with blood clots, causing him to only play 46 games during the season. This injury put into question Wembanyama's durability, but the 2025-26 season put those questions to rest, with the French center winning Defensive Player of the Year after his third consecutive season leading the league in blocks.

It's undeniable that Wembanyama has lifted San Antonio to this sort of playoff success. The team had not reached the Conference Semi-Finals since 2017. After a dismal season that saw the Spurs pick up the No. 1 pick, Wembanyama has turned them into a championship contender in just three seasons. 

The next matchup for Wembanyama and the Spurs will be with the winner of the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves.

SN NBA AWARDS: POY (Victor Wembanyama) | ROY (Kon Knueppel) | COY (Joe Mazzulla)