Carmelo Anthony Praises Victor Wembanyama for Shoving Knicks' Jalen Brunson
An aggressive shove by the San Antonio Spurs‘ Victor Wembanyama on New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson drew criticism from some and praise from others.
Carmelo Anthony is the latest former Knicks player to weigh in on the topic, and seemingly supported what he saw from the 22-year-old Frenchman, but also made a major point about Brunson’s teammates.
“By any means necessary, we gotta find the edge. If it comes down to the best player on the team pushing the other best player on the team, then yeah, that’s what we want,” he said on “The Pat McAfee Show.”
He suggested it was less about getting physical and more about the Spurs’ big man “setting the tone” at Madison Square Garden against the Knicks.
“I like the fact that Wemby did that … What I would've liked to see, somebody on our team on the Knicks, jump in there and say something,” Anthony said.
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In the first several games of the NBA Finals, the Knicks took charge, continuing their impressive winning streak. They were extra physical against Wemby in San Antonio, with multiple players working to prevent him from being in the paint.
That forced him to settle for jump shots, rather than driving the lane for more dominant dunks or layups. However, he and the Spurs turned the tide in Game 3, with Wemby much more aggressive and finishing with 32 points in the win.
Anthony’s remarks arrive after the league reviewed footage of Wemby’s shove and deemed there wouldn’t be a foul or punishment issued to the Spurs star. His comments also come after another former Knicks player, Stephon Marbury, went on social media after Game 3 and suggested that players should take action against Wemby for what he did.
Anthony never experienced a Knicks playoff run that culminated in competing in the NBA Finals, but he was in enough physical games and playoff series during his career to understand what it takes to win.
Based on his take, letting opposing players push you around when the stakes are high is the difference between a winning mentality and surrendering to a better team. It remains to be seen how both teams respond to what transpired in Game 3, as several intense moments could’ve motivated either side going forward.
Game 4 between the Knicks and Spurs arrives on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. ET.
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This story was originally published June 10, 2026 at 11:13 AM.