Stephon Marbury Calls for Retaliation Against Victor Wembanyama After Shove
In Game 3 of the NBA Finals, San Antonio Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama faced backlash after an aggressive play against New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson in the first half.
With the Knicks running a play on offense, the two players were wrapped up, with Wemby seeming to try to fight through a screen or fight off Brunson, who was grabbing his jersey. A replay revealed a hard shove to the back of Brunson’s head and neck from the Spurs center, which sent the Knicks guard almost down to the court.
Brunson snapped back and got in Wemby’s face after the move, with the Spurs star seeming to laugh it off. Referees didn’t make any sort of call against Wemby or review for a flagrant, allowing things to continue.
Ultimately, the Spurs claimed a hard-fought victory at Madison Square Garden, 115-111. Still, Wemby’s play drew plenty of criticism from various analysts and even former Knicks star Stephon Marbury, who suggested that drastic action should be taken against the Spurs’ big man.
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In a video rant that recently surfaced on X after Game 3, Marbury spoke about Wemby playing “dirty” and gave his thoughts on how the team needs to respond to step up for Brunson.
“Wemby is an international player. They play dirty overseas. We’re not used to playing dirty in America how the way Wemby just threw Jalen Brunson. Now, if I’m watching film, and I see Wemby throw somebody on my team … then next game I’m gonna pop him in his rib cage. so hard with my elbow that he’s gonna fall and drop to the ground and he’s gonna wish he never put his hands on me,” Marbury said.
“After y’all watch that film, what he did to Jalen Brunson … you better make sure you put that knife in his neck … next game,” he suggested in his rant.
It remains to be seen if that happens, but Marbury isn’t the only one who has suggested sending a message back at Wemby in the next game of the NBA Finals. Brunson’s teammate, Jose Alvarado, issued a warning ahead of Game 4, and several analysts also suggested the Knicks should retaliate.
Marbury, who played for New York from 2004 to 2009, is one of the many former Knicks players who have appeared throughout the team’s 2026 playoff run. Others include Patrick Ewing, John Starks, and Walt “Clyde” Frazier.
It’s worth noting that the only player of those individuals who won a championship was Frazier. He played for the Knicks from 1967-77, winning the franchise’s only two championships in 1970 and 1973.
Meanwhile, Marbury seems passionate about his former team, but his advice feels ill-timed, especially as hostile Knicks fans made headlines postgame for attacking fans in Spurs jerseys after the Game 3 loss.
Game 4 between the Knicks and Spurs arrives at 8:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
More news:Jalen Brunson Reacts to Victor Wembanyama Shove After Game 3 of NBA Finals
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This story was originally published June 9, 2026 at 10:08 PM.