The Spurs head coach offered his support to Wembanyama upon the French star's recent emotional moment.
San Antonio Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson couldn't be any prouder about how Victor Wembanyama recently handled the loss of his grandmother.
Victor Wembanyama
Victor Wembanyama
Victor Wembanyama
MIN: 32.97
PTS: 25.29 (59.31%)
REB: 12.14
As: 3.64
ST: 1.07
BL: 3.36
TO: 3.5
GM: 14
"The emotion he showed or lack thereof during the game is typically the human response of when you're trying to be poised and composed while you're going through something, I think, we've all experienced in our lives," Johnson said about Wembanyama before the Spurs' 119-94 Thursday win over Washington. "I don't want to speak for him, but I know typically when you get through those experiences and you're able to catch a breath and probably actually internalize what's going on, it can be a lot — good, bad. It's usually emotional either way.
"And so I am just proud of him he got through it. I was happy he felt comfortable enough with our group to share it, and that we would honor him and be a part of that moment with him."
Wembanyama made headlines for his brief postgame appearance in the Spurs' NBA Cup Finals loss against the New York Knicks. He was fighting his tears and told reporters that he had just lost someone close to him.
Several reports ultimately revealed that Victor's grandmother, Marie-Christine de Fautereau, passed away just hours before the Spurs' championship game with the Knicks. It prompted Wembanyama to play with a heavy heart and be more emotional right after the Finals loss.
"It's tough. Life, unfortunately, doesn't get to be put on hold, and we don't get to determine our work schedules around that. So, sometimes we have to (decide), whether it's pick one or juggle them both. And I think that's where you have teams and groups come together," Johnson added.
"It helps in those moments because we all go through things and have tough days. So, it was just a moment that hopefully he felt supported because it obviously was not easy for him."
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