"The next game I'm gonna pop him in his rib cage so hard with my elbow... you better make sure you put that knife in his neck."
Game 3: Shove, Confrontation, and a Series Shift
During the first quarter of Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals, a contentious moment unfolded between the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks. Spurs center Victor Wembanyama shoved Knicks guard Jalen Brunson with both hands, causing Brunson to fall to the court. No foul was called on the play.
Following the shove, Brunson confronted Wembanyama. He was restrained by Spurs player Stephon Castle, preventing the altercation from escalating further. The Knicks ultimately lost the game 115-111, cutting their series lead to 2-1.
Reaction: Marbury Calls for Retaliation
Former Knicks player Stephon Marbury posted a video on Instagram reacting to the incident. Marbury labeled Wembanyama's play as "dirty" and explicitly called for the Knicks to retaliate in Game 4. He stated: "The next game I'm gonna pop him in his rib cage so hard with my elbow... you better make sure you put that knife in his neck."
Marbury played five seasons with the Knicks and later enjoyed a successful career in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), where he won three championships and a Finals MVP.
Brunson's Response
When asked about the shove, Brunson offered a brief, non-committal answer: "No, to answer your second question. And whatever you saw is what you saw."
Additional Context
- Knicks guard Josh Hart received a technical foul for shoving Spurs player Luke Kornet in the first quarter.