A seemingly harmless five-word greeting has sparked one of the most bizarre controversies of the 2026 NBA Finals, placing Victor Wembanyama at the centre of a growing dispute involving a luxury New York hotel, an outspoken Knicks supporter and allegations of an abrupt eviction. As tensions between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs reached boiling point during the series, an unexpected off-court incident quickly grabbed headlines.
The claim, first reported by the New York Post, centres on Pennsylvania resident Phil Godlewski, who alleges that he and five members of his party were forced to leave a penthouse they had rented for around $20,000 (£15,800) per night. According to Godlewski, the incident occurred only minutes after one of his companions wished Wembanyama good luck ahead of Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
