ALL-STAR GAME

February 15, 2026

Victor Wembanyama

World

Postgame Press Conference

Q. Vic, you got credit right off the bat from Ant saying you set the tone. Then social media is blowing up saying, Wemby did more to save the All-Star Game in 10 minutes than they've tried to do in 10 years. Why was it important for you to try to set the tone with the competitiveness?

VICTOR WEMBANYAMA: To make it more fun. I think it was pretty good. We got a guy like Kawhi going for 30, making every shot.

No, it was a pretty good display of basketball. Better than last year, in my opinion. It was fun.

Q. San Antonio, you guys are ahead of schedule. You've been doing great, No. 2 in the West. Your showing today, I think 34 points in the two games combined, D-Fox getting the game winner in the other game. Good showing for San Antonio?

VICTOR WEMBANYAMA: Yeah, for sure. Having two guys out there, it means something. I'm excited to go back with my team. The weekend was fun, but I'm excited to rest a little bit and go back to my team.

Q. I know it's an All-Star Game. We all know it's an All-Star Game. Do you ever lose yourself in the game to the point where you're like really competitive? Like after that last 3 against the young USA team in overtime, you stomped off in the other direction. That just looked like you were really losing yourself in that.

VICTOR WEMBANYAMA: Yeah, it was our second time allowing a 3 when we shouldn't have. It's the game. It's really one quarter. I mean, I would have expected us to be smarter right here, so that was disappointing.

Yeah, I think being honest with ourselves is good. When it's a game we love, it's a game I personally cherish, so being competitive is the least I can do.

Q. Did you get the sense that you were blocking everybody's shot and going after everything raised the level of competition in the game that you were bringing it so everybody else had to bring it so they wouldn't be embarrassed by you?

VICTOR WEMBANYAMA: Of course it played a part in it, but I wasn't the only one getting blocks. There was a good amount of blocks in the first game. I think we were going to the rim. We weren't kicking out the ball enough in the first game.

Yeah, for sure. Like, say somebody blocks me or somebody gets blocked on the other end, you don't want to let the opponent score, you know what I mean? You blocked on the previous play. So of course it raises the level.

Q. There's been so much conversation about who wants to take over and be the face of the league, and nobody has really stepped forward and said I want to do it. Is that something that you feel like, there's a void that I can fill. Do you see that?

VICTOR WEMBANYAMA: Yeah, I see that. I see what you're trying to make me say, too. It's something that's got to be natural, of course.

Obviously the social media, NBA can promote whoever they want. But at the end of the day, it's going to be the best players and who the people ask for. Being the face of the league, it's something that can be manufactured but only to some extent. It's only going to be the best players. This is what it's all about.

Shoot, being the face of the league is just the by-product of -- and I'm saying that like somebody being the face of the league would just be the by-product of their basketball level.

Q. Would you want to see this format continue? Also, how do you block out of your mind the fear of injury, going all out like that?

VICTOR WEMBANYAMA: I feel like you can't really block it out. I feel like you could, but it could be a waste of energy. I think you just need to be okay with your ability. I chose to step on the court. It means I'm 100 percent.

And the format, yeah, I liked it. I liked it. I wouldn't be against this format in the future, and I wouldn't be against the regular East versus West either.

Q. Can you take me through what you were thinking when you guys lost that very first game? You kind of did a lap around the court, and you looked pretty upset.

VICTOR WEMBANYAMA: Yeah, we had already conceded a 3 when we should have stayed home. What we were saying was no 3s, no 3s, because that's what they needed twice in the game. So it's disappointing.

Q. How would you describe playing with Deni Avdija during this experience? How is he viewed around the league at this point and the step he's taken this year?

VICTOR WEMBANYAMA: How is he viewed? He takes a lot of free throws. So playing against him -- I haven't played against him this year, but my advice is to defend without fouling.

I don't know how many minutes I shared with him on the court, but as I was saying before, today was a pretty fun experience. I think what was displayed basketball-wise was solid, and it shows in the results. It was a close game and intensity.

Q. Just your thoughts on Kawhi Leonard, 31 points in 12 minutes. Did you almost want to raise your hand and say I'm going to pick that guy up full court?

VICTOR WEMBANYAMA: I don't think I've ever picked up any guy full court in my life, so today was not going to be the day.

Yeah, I started guarding him for sure. Tried my best, because also I'm one of the smallest on the court tonight in terms of position.

First game, I was guarding Ant. That was my matchup from the coach. That's what he said. So I got to adapt. Also, my ambition is to be able to guard any player at any time. So I'm all up for the challenge.