SAN ANTONIO -- As the New York Knicks' championship celebration reached a crescendo at Frost Bank Center on his home court, Victor Wembanyama sat in a chair behind a black curtain outside the Spurs' locker room, processing the 94-90 loss in Game 5 of the NBA Finals that ended San Antonio's season.
Several minutes later, the Frenchman sat on a dais inhaling deeply and letting out those breaths with an "ooh" to keep his composure. Wembanyama stared straight ahead, releasing another "ooh" when reminded about some of the all-time greats who failed first before ultimately succeeding on the game's biggest stage.
"It's painful," Wembanyama said. "But I'm not running away from that. I'm using it to fuel me. I'm sure all these guys you named, they're not satisfied with being eliminated in the earlier rounds or not making the playoffs. I'm not satisfied with not winning. This is the biggest lesson of my life. As a team, there's no better experience than what we just lived."
In the moment, it didn't feel that way for anyone calling Frost Bank Center home.