Victor Wembanyama’s list of NBA enemies keeps growing, and the trail now runs through four cities.
The pattern is easy to spot. In three of those places, the bad blood started the same way: somebody got physical with Wembanyama, and he answered right back. That kind of response has left plenty of fans furious, but it also fits the reality of what happens when a player this good starts changing games and changing moods.
The first spark came in Houston during the 2023 NBA Draft Lottery. Rockets fans were already locked in on where the ping-pong balls would land, and when Houston was eliminated, Wembanyama celebrated on camera. That moment stuck, and Rockets fans have held onto it ever since.
From there, the irritation spread. Wembanyama mostly had the basketball world wrapped around him at first.
People loved watching the 7'4" French star block shots, finish above the rim, and hit threes. But once the Spurs made the playoffs, the tone shifted.
Minnesota was next. Wembanyama threw an elbow at Naz Reid and got ejected, though he was not suspended.
That only deepened the anger in a Timberwolves fan base that felt he went at Reid for no reason. The reality, from the source of this reporting, is that the elbow came after Wembanyama had already been dealing with a lot of contact from Minnesota players.
Oklahoma City followed. There was already tension between Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren, and that Spurs-Thunder friction had been building for years.
But Thunder fans really turned on Wembanyama during that series, when they started calling him dirty or a flopper. The source says that accusation missed the point, since Wembanyama was reacting to repeated borderline-dirty physical play that included grabbing his limbs, pushing him needlessly, and stepping on his feet intentionally.
Then came New York, which appears to be carrying the freshest grudge. Knicks fans are still hung up on Wembanyama shoving Jalen Brunson’s head during the Finals. That has become an easy talking point for them, even if it conveniently leaves out how often Wembanyama was held, yanked, and hit in the ribs throughout the series.
None of this seems to bother him. Wembanyama recently made it clear that the hate doesn’t get under his skin. He wants to be great, not liked, and that’s the version of him Spurs fans are signing up for.
Michael Jordan had haters. LeBron James has haters.
Stephen Curry has haters. The source makes the point plainly: if you’re great enough to matter, some people are going to root against you.
San Antonio doesn’t need the league to embrace him. Wembanyama has plenty of support in the Alamo City and across his global fan base.
What matters most is that he keeps playing with the same edge, the same physicality, and the same refusal to back down. The noise around him is just part of the job.
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