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Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs, along with the New York Knicks, will address the media ahead of Game 4 of the NBA Finals today from Madison Square Garden.<\/p>\n
The San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks are meeting with the press ahead of Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals<\/a>, which is scheduled to be broadcast Wednesday, June 10 at 8:30 ET on ABC.<\/p>\n Catch up on the best quotes and moments from the fourth Media Day of the Finals with the NBA.com live blog.<\/p>\n What we know about Tuesday\u2019s Media Day:<\/p>\n JUNE 9 \/ 1:53 ET<\/p>\n De\u2019Aaron Fox speaks<\/p>\n On the team\u2019s mantra to stay focused\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re trying not to look at it as a series. We\u2019re looking at it one game at a time. Going down 0-2, especially losing those games at home, it can look like it\u2019s a real steep uphill battle, but we\u2019re taking it one game at a time. We know that our season is going to be over in a week-and-a-half.\u201d<\/p>\n On hitting a big shot at the end of Game 3 and how it affects his confidence for Game 4\u2026<\/p>\n Player correspondent AJ Dybantsa asked this question.<\/p>\n \u201cI try not to let making shots waver or boost your confidence. It\u2019s a make or miss league. We\u2019re in 103, 104 or something this year, so you try not to let that be the reason that you play defense better, or you box out better, or you do all these other things that can affect the game, because there are days where you are going to come in and shots aren\u2019t just going to fall, there are games you can\u2019t miss a shot. You try not to let that be the roller coaster that you ride over the course of a season.\u201d<\/p>\n On whether he\u2019s been surprised by the Spurs\u2019 young stars unflappability\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cThey just don\u2019t have the personalities that you think are going to be overwhelmed by something. I don\u2019t know what they\u2019re feeling on the inside obviously, but what you see out there on the court with them, what you see on their faces when New York is going on a run, you don\u2019t see them panic\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t see that out of young guys all the time, but that\u2019s why we\u2019re so good, because we have the youth, we have the size, we have the athleticism, we have the poise to be able to withstand those things.\u201d<\/p>\n On Victor Wembanyama embracing a villain role\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s a villain role. If you get hit, you hit back. That\u2019s life. If life hits you need, you need to figure out a way to get back on your feet and hit it back. Vic, every time he rolls, he gets tagged, he gets hit. If he\u2019s trying to go set a screen, if he\u2019s trying to box out\u2026 he\u2019s getting grabbed, he\u2019s getting held. It would be crazy for him to think that he\u2019s going to get open by not hitting somebody.<\/p>\n \u201cBut that\u2019s basketball. It\u2019s going to be physical. Nobody expects anybody to come out here and not have bumps or bruises or injuries, or all these things. I don\u2019t think it\u2019s trying to be a villain, but you know teams are going to be physical with you and you try to hit first.\u201d<\/p>\n On being cross-matched with Karl-Anthony Towns\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cYou try to get under him. I try not to let bigger guys dribble against me. Obviously, the closer that they get to the basket, the easier it is for them. And I think despite my size, I feel like I\u2019m pretty physical, especially on the defensive end. Just trying to take those hits and stand guys up \u2014 if you can force a shot to be 13-feet rather than 10 feet, the numbers drop drastically.\u201d<\/p>\n On the biggest challenge heading into Game 4\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cKeep them out of transition. Don\u2019t turn the ball over, and giving up offensive rebounds. That\u2019s when they\u2019ve gone on their runs. I think we\u2019ve been in control of the game these three games most of the game. When they hit us, when they go on these runs, it\u2019s how quickly we can stop the bleeding \u2014 and that\u2019s been most of the series.\u201d<\/p>\n JUNE 9 \/ 1:45 ET<\/p>\n Julian Champagnie speaks<\/p>\n On playing in the Garden as a New York native\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cIt was pretty cool. Obviously, we had a game to win, and that was the most important thing, especially being down 0-2. But the initial reaction of just running out there, seeing all the celebrities, the fans, the music, it was definitely a surreal feeling that I\u2019ll carry for life.\u201d<\/p>\n On the booing Victor Wembanyama faced\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s just regular. I don\u2019t feel like there\u2019s anything to that. Obviously, Vic is a great player, and that\u2019s what people are going to do to him, so no hard feelings.\u201d<\/p>\n On sticking together in a hostile environment as the Playoffs ramp up..<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t find it to be harder. Obviously, the noise and the media and the fans, it gets to be more the further you go into the Playoffs. But I think it\u2019s pretty easy to stay locked in your teammates when you guys have a such a good bond. And obviously, we\u2019ve done a lot in this season\u2026 so I don\u2019t feel like it\u2019s too, too hard.\u201d<\/p>\n On shooting amidst the noise and physicality in Game 3\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve got to remember I\u2019m from here, so the noise is the noise \u2014 that\u2019s just how it goes. We\u2019ve also played in a bunch of arenas to this point that have been loud, even our own, so I don\u2019t think blocking it out is too hard, we have something to focus on.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Knicks play super, super physical. That\u2019s part of their identity. We have to do a good job of matching that and doing more of that. But I\u2019m assuming it\u2019s not going to get easier, so it\u2019ll more physical tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n On limiting the Knicks\u2019 passing in Game 3\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cWe have been them in that situation a lot of this series, when we get them into late clock\u2026 and we don\u2019t quite finish the possession\u2026 I feel like last night, being down 0-2, we couldn\u2019t have too much of that, because that\u2019s when they\u2019re going to capitalize, especially being an older team\u2026 That thought overtook all.\u201d<\/p>\n JUNE 9 \/ 1:30 ET<\/p>\n Dylan Harper speaks<\/p>\n On getting booed in New York City\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s my first time in New York, walking out and getting booed \u2014 I can say that. But it\u2019s kind of been ever series \u2014 OKC, we got booed a little bit. Not so much Minnesota and Portland. But it\u2019s New York, hostile environment, and I don\u2019t think it would feel the same if it wasn\u2019t as hostile.\u201d<\/p>\n On finding his 3-point shot and reacting to the Knicks\u2019 defense\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cLast night I couldn\u2019t make a shot, and that\u2019s just the reality of the game. I\u2019m going to keep shooting them, because I feel like the confidence I have in myself, the confidence the team has in me. It\u2019s just really taking the best shot for the team, not for myself, and I feel like yesterday shots weren\u2019t really falling.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t hang my head too much, because we\u2019ve got a lot of basketball yet to played.\u201d<\/p>\n On the team\u2019s comfort on the road\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cI feel like we just stay together in environments like this. The biggest thing, when we come to away games in the Playoffs, is just staying together and holding each other accountable. With the level of desperation and desire we played with last night, I feel like we\u2019re pretty hard to beat when we do that.\u201d<\/p>\n On building continuity that holds up in the Finals\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cWe hang out outside of basketball a lot as a team, do things like team dinner and play games as a team. I feel like those kind of events, and things like that, make up for the years that we weren\u2019t together, or the years we haven\u2019t had.<\/p>\n \u201cThe biggest thing is chemistry when you get in a building like this, when you get in an environment like this, and I think we have as much chemistry, camaraderie and togetherness as anyone else.\u201d<\/p>\n On Victor Wembanyama\u2019s comfort in a hostile environment\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cHe steps up to the moment, all the time, no matter what moment it is\u2026 That\u2019s just the big-time player he is.\u201d<\/p>\n JUNE 9 \/ 1:15 ET<\/p>\n Victor Wembanyama speaks<\/p>\n On enjoying playing with a crowd, whether home or away\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cBoth scenarios are very exciting. I like lively crowds, active crowds, both at home and on the road. At home, it\u2019s on extra motivation, because you want to give the people who support you a good show, and on the road, you want to do the opposite.\u201d<\/p>\n On learning fast enough to succeed in his first Finals appearance\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cMy bet would be yes, it\u2019s possible. What we\u2019ve learned \u2014 many things, across this Playoffs\u2026 Brace with your hands, not with your chin. Hit below the head, if you do. And many other things, but most importantly, be relentless.\u201d<\/p>\n On rolling to the rim early in Game 3\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cEspecially early in games, you have to put pressure on the rim, because it\u2019s the most efficient shots.\u201d<\/p>\n On building his coordination over the years and its impact on this series\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cI think the key would be not to play on your strengths all the time. I received this one piece of advice a long time ago, that said, \u2018as a kid, you\u2019re not working for the present right now.\u2019 Right now, me, myself, I\u2019m working for right now \u2014 I don\u2019t even care about next season, we have to win Game 4.<\/p>\n \u201cAs a kid, whether you\u2019re 10, 13, 16-years-old, you\u2019re working for the future. You\u2019re trying to develop your range of skills. Long story short, play on your weaknesses, not only your strengths.\u201d<\/p>\n On dissecting defenses in real time\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cI think I\u2019ve gotten much better at it. When watching film from past years, sometimes it was just shooting shots, and even still to this day, and sometimes it goes in. But the efficiency, the purposefulness, is so much better now.\u201d<\/p>\n On keeping the momentum from Game 3 and going inside\u2026<\/p>\n Player correspondent AJ Dybantsa asked this question.<\/p>\n \u201cThe goal is always to go inside \u2014 the best shot in the game is an alley-oop\u2026 I think what we\u2019ve built with this team is we\u2019ve got an identity that makes everybody dangerous, and sometimes, it\u2019ll pay off over a season, over a Playoff series, we\u2019re going to get easy buckets.\u201d<\/p>\n JUNE 9 \/ 1:00 ET<\/p>\n Stephon Castle speaks<\/p>\n On the team\u2019s 11-0 streak in February and reacting to its end\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cIn February, we were having a lot of fun playing basketball\u2026 We were connecting on defense, rebounding our misses, giving ourselves extra shots. I think us losing that first game \u2014 I don\u2019t think it was a humbling experience, but it made us realize we\u2019re not invincible. I think it gave us a view on how good we are when we do the right things\u2026 It was an eye-opener.\u201d<\/p>\n On he and Dylan Harper reacting if the Knicks pack the paint in Game 4\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cUs being aggressive, whether that\u2019s taking an open catch-and-shoot three or taking up that space and still trying to touch paint, I don\u2019t think we\u2019ve let the defense force us to do anything all year. I feel like they\u2019ve given us stuff, and most of the time, we take what they give us.\u201d<\/p>\n On the Spurs\u2019 ability to handle hostile environments\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cOur connectivity. Coming into environments like this, you expect it. It\u2019s something you can\u2019t shy away from, especially for the goals and aspirations that we have for our season. We knew that it was a must-win game, so focus on the things that matter throughout the game, and not paying too much close attention to the crowd. They\u2019re going to be there regardless, especially cheering on their team. You should want to play in those kind of environments.\u201d<\/p>\n On not losing three straight all season\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cI think our coaches do a good job of explaining why we lost most of the time, and what we can do to help ourselves. I think we do a good job of applying it to the game, whether it looks bad\u2026 or it doesn\u2019t work out the first couple of times. I think our process, and just sticking with things, has helped us all year\u2026 Us being able to take a loss, look at it, and see what we\u2019re able to do better right away.\u201d<\/p>\n On his process in between games\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cThe mental rest is definitely needed. Today is when we\u2019ll do most of our film. Physically, these are very physical games. Both teams are getting beat up. We\u2019re at the end of the year, so everybody\u2019s tired\u2026 It\u2019s no excuse; everybody needs their rest. But mentally, going back and watching the game, whether we had a good game or bad game, I think that little break is definitely helpful.\u201d<\/p>\n On the feeling in the locker room after Game 3\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cI think everybody was feeling good. I didn\u2019t want us to get too happy about one win, and get satisfied, and take our foot off the gas for the next game. I think since the end of Game 2, we\u2019ve been confident we\u2019re going to win this series, and that\u2019s what we plan to do.<\/p>\n \u201cI think we\u2019re very connected as a team, and we all want to win. That\u2019s just the selflessness that runs through our locker room, and it shows every night.\u201d<\/p>\n JUNE 9 \/ 12:40 ET<\/p>\n Coach Mitch Johnson speaks<\/p>\n On the team\u2019s comfort in being in rotation defensively\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cI think we\u2019ve had some really good moments in being connected in those rotations, and taking certain things away\u2026 We\u2019ve forced them to take a lot of shots at end of clock\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cI think we\u2019ve shown that we can be impactful when we\u2019re connected and do it in the right way. They\u2019ve shown that they do a great job of moving the ball.\u201d<\/p>\n On Victor Wembanyama\u2019s ability to read defenses and make adjustments\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cThe players of his caliber see so many coverages, personnel groupings, matchups, take this away, force them to do that. Over time, I just believe there becomes a comfortability, and that leads to familiarity and then even confidence\u2026 That takes a lot of time \u2014 that\u2019s pattern recognition, and in that pattern recognition, there\u2019s processing, and at the highest level, there\u2019s manipulation and dictating by the greats that have done it over the years. I think he\u2019s on that same pathway.\u201d<\/p>\n On the team\u2019s sense of belief\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve played over 100 games now, so what I\u2019ve seen, the belief is going to be there\u2026 We\u2019ve just been honest all year\u2026 We believe in what we put into this deal and each other, and how we\u2019re going to operate and respond.\u201d<\/p>\n JUNE 9 \/ 12:00 ET<\/p>\n Get ready for \u2018The Association\u2019<\/p>\n The Spurs win Game 3 in a thriller at MSG, setting the stage for Game 4 tomorrow on ABC! \ud83c\udf7f<\/p>\n Get exclusive access with @JZFish<\/a> and @QRich<\/a> on The Association: NBA Finals Media Day, live on NBA TV and the NBA App at 12:30 PM ET.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcfa https:\/\/t.co\/owQtY8YUWr<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/l3jx10jpc1<\/a><\/p>\n