2023-06-23 05:51:01
Even giants cry sometimes. Victor Wembanyama was, as expected, chosen in first position by the San Antonio Spurs who had the first choice, during the Draft which was held this Thursday evening in New York (overnight in France). A historic first for a Frenchman.
“With the first choice, the San Antonio Spurs choose … Victor Wembanyama”, distinctly shelled, as usual, the boss of the NBA Adam Silver. The sentence, however repeated in his head thousands of times, touched Victor Wembanyama in the heart. He got up, kissed his relatives, his brother, his sister, his mother, his father, his agents as well as the two other French people sitting at the next table, Bilal Coulibaly and Rayan Rupert.
He then went on stage, as required by protocol, to put on the cap of his future team and tighten the grip of Adam Silver. Then he slipped away to a discreet corner of the room, where he spoke on the phone with Gregg Popovich, his future coach. “I’m ready to learn,” he slipped to his future coach who had made the effort to say a few words to him… in French, at the start of the conversation. And he broke down in tears.
“This choice was expected, but when you are going to have a baby, you know it nine months in advance and you are still moved, he confided in the process at a press conference. This sentence of Adam Silver, it is so mythical, legendary. I dreamed of it so much that I could almost touch it. It’s totally unreal. I find it hard to realize. It’s a dream come true, the best day of my life. »
Adam Silver: ‘Fans will love it’
Despite already 19 years of effort, sacrifice and dedication to his passion, it seems that everything begins now for the French basketball player: in the middle of a crowd of cameras and fans trying to snatch a photo or autograph. In the crowd, a ten-year-old child, too far for a selfie, throws his phone at her so that “Wemby” takes a picture of himself. In the stands, French people sing the beginning of Marseillaise. The future Spurs is unanimous: everyone seems to love it.
“He’s such an interesting personality,” says NBA boss Adam Silver. I discovered him when he was 16 but I waited until last January, in Paris, to meet him. What struck me about him was his maturity. I enjoyed chatting with him, including topics outside of basketball. Fans know him as a basketball player but when they get to know him as a person, they’ll love him. He is French, and he will quickly be adopted as a citizen of the world. »
“Hearing that sentence from Adam Silver, I’ve dreamed of it so much.”
—Victor Wembanyama and his siblings were emotional after he was drafted No. 1 overall pic.twitter.com/YRlkTcMpbl
— ESPN (@espn) June 23, 2023
It is with a Louis Vuitton suit in his favorite color, green, as well as a stone around his neck that he had made to measure after having seen it in a dream, and a black and white Spurs cap on head, that he entered his new world. A little later, he was handed a jersey from his future team, his name printed on the back and the number 1, his lucky number, prominently displayed. From this Friday, he will discover San Antonio, where the fans await him in a rather unique fervor for a city that is usually rather calm.
“I saw that they had painted my face on a wall, it’s crazy! Reacts the player. They give me so much passion. It’s the best welcome I could have dreamed of. I want to tell the fans that I will do everything to make them win and have an impact on the franchise. It’s more than a logo and more than a name. There is the legacy of very great French players, Tony Parker of course, very great players, period, and ”Big Men”. My goal will be to get closer to the ring (note: the NBA title) and to learn season after season how to get there. »
Bilal Coulibaly, another Frenchman in the Top 10
For French basketball, it’s a historic day. Bilal Coulibaly was chosen in 7th position by Indiana and immediately traded with the number 8 choice, Jarace Walker: Coulibaly will therefore play in Washington next season. “I’m so proud of you,” Wemby slipped to him after shouting in delight when his friend’s name was in turn spoken by Adam Silver.
“I am so happy for French basketball, reacted Bilal Coulibaly. Victor is much more than a teammate, he is like a brother to me. He’s a great guy, it’s amazing what’s happening to him. As for me, I still have a hard time realizing it. Lately it had become a goal more than a dream but it still seems a bit crazy. »
The NBA will learn to speak French in the coming years. She already comes to Paris to play one game there per season, and she could come with slightly different baggage from 2025… “Can we imagine the Spurs in Paris? Yes!, Adam Silver replies enthusiastically. I don’t know when, it won’t be next year because things are already defined, but we are working on Victor coming with his future franchise. By then, how far will the Frenchman have gone?
“It’s going to be a long road to reach the summit,” replies Wembanyama. But I am ready to learn from everyone. I often hear that the youngest will be able to draw inspiration and learn from me, but above all they can learn from themselves, that’s how we progress the most. »
You have to believe that the little boy who was already 1.91m tall at 11 years old has learned a lot from himself: he is today on the roof of the basketball world, chosen at the top of the list like LeBron James there is 20 years old, ready to impress with his different game and to charm with his original personality, both relaxed and full of confidence, able to juggle between French, English and little jokes. Even with a knot in his throat, or on the verge of tears. Giants sometimes cry but never break down.
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