The 2026 NBA Finals matchup between the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks features two of the league’s best players: Victor Wembanyama and Jalen Brunson.

Wembanyama was the unanimous Western Conference Finals MVP, leading the Spurs to a Game 7 victory over the reigning-champion Oklahoma City Thunder this past weekend. Brunson was unanimously awarded the Eastern Conference Finals MVP trophy after leading the Knicks to a series sweep over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

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These two elite players share some mutual respect. During his NBA Finals media availability on Tuesday, Brunson delivered some serious praise for the 7-foot-4 Frenchman.

“Watching him as a player, it’s pretty unbelievable,” Brunson said of Wembanyama, via Spurs insider Tom Petrini. “Things he’s able to do both sides of the ball, obviously people have never really seen before, for a person of his size, so it’s incredible to watch from a fan’s perspective.”

“As an opposing player. It’s something you constantly have to be on watch for,” Brunson continued. “You just never know the things that he’s capable of doing, and so that’s why game planning and our game-plan discipline and our attention to details are so important when it comes to playing him, because he’s pretty incredible.”

Jalen Brunson on Wemby:

"Watching him as a player, it's pretty unbelievable. Things he's able to do both sides of the ball, obviously people have never really seen before, for a person of his size, so it's incredible to watch from a fan's perspective. As an opposing player. It's…

— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) June 2, 2026

More Basketball:Stephon Castle Explains His Defensive Plan for Slowing Down Jalen Brunson

Wembanyama averaged 23.2 points, 10.8 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game through his first 17 career playoff games. Brunson averaged 26.9 points and 6.6 assists per game as the Knicks cruised their way through the Eastern Conference, winning 11 straight games en route to the NBA Finals.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 16: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs shoots against Karl-Anthony Towns #32, Jalen Brunson #11 and Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks in the fourth quarter of the championship game of the Emirates NBA Cup at T-Mobile Arena on December 16, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Knicks defeated the Spurs 124-113. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

More Basketball:Victor Wembanyama Opens Up About Emotional Reunion With Gregg Popovich

Game 1 will tipoff at 8:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday.

Related Articles

• Jalen Brunson Reveals Significant Adjustment Before NBA Finals Game 1
• Stephon Castle Makes Victor Wembanyama Declaration: 'Best Player in the World'
• Spurs Coach Mitch Johnson Gives De’Aaron Fox Injury Update for NBA Finals

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