Michael C. Wright

Apr 17, 2026, 07:00 AM ET

On a cold March night in Memphis, Tennessee, Victor Wembanyama plopped down in a seat in the visitors locker room at FedExForum and plunged one foot into an orange cooler filled with ice and water.

Off to Wembanyama's right, Devin Vassell dressed in the corner, leaving the Frenchman reluctant to start his postgame interview. So, Wembanyama told the small group of reporters near his locker that he'd start his availability once everybody stopped recording on their phones.

"I've got your back," he told Vassell, who was still dressing.

As Wembanyama took the first question, he noticed someone recording.

"Are you still recording?" he asked.

"No, no, no," a reporter replied. "We stopped. We stopped"

A Spurs staffer noticed they hadn't.…