2024-01-03 11:27:33
One is one of the stars of the NBA, the other is becoming one. The two brought spectators to their feet at the FedEx Forum, the basketball arena in Memphis, Tennessee. Ja Morant is the leader of the Grizzlies, Victor Wembanyama the rookie of the San Antonio Spurs. Their spectacular duel will be on repeat all day on social networks. San Antonio lost again (106-98), but Victor Wembanyama shone again, especially during the first three quarters where his defensive influence was once again enormous.
The Frenchman finished with 20 points (in 26 minutes of play), 50% shooting success, 7 rebounds, 4 blocks and a shower of spectacular actions. Particularly against Ja Morant, the enfant terrible of the NBA, suspended for several weeks for showing off on social networks on two occasions with a gun in his hand. The kid is terrible but the player is fantastic.
From the first minute of play, Morant found himself facing Wemby. The public roars, too happy with the first opposition between the two phenomena. Morant erases the Frenchman, but Wembanyama takes off and extends his arm to successfully counter his opponent! In the seconds that followed, the 2.22m giant made a second counterattack, this time on Jaren Jackson Jr. He also admired his quality of passing, first for Branham, then for Sochan. Before scoring his first points on one of his signature actions: an alley-oop at a dizzying height. In three minutes, the first of the match, we only saw him.
Against and small bridge
He continued his momentum during the second quarter: an authoritarian dunk on two opponents, a successful mid-range shot on an action announced by his coach Gregg Popovich, then a first 3-point success. Before winning once again against Jackson Jr, a new opponent from nowhere. In the meantime, he also made the spectators smile by being the victim… of a small bridge, a pass between his legs made by the Spaniard from Memphis, Santi Aldama.
In the second half, he brings back fond memories of the spectators of the French championship: he succeeds – with a little luck – a three-pointer… on one leg! He also goes to the basket against Biyombo, who prefers to make a mistake rather than being the subject of a highlight from Wemby.
The last quarter is more difficult for the number 1 of the last draft. As is often the case, he ends the game out of breath, late on his interventions and too short on his shots. With more space, Morant enjoys himself and takes his revenge at the start of the match. The Grizzlies player first erases the Frenchman with a suspended feint, before eliminating him with a dribble on the following action to go for a dunk. A rare gesture, almost unprecedented in the NBA, as the scale of the French giant represents a danger for anyone who wants to approach the basket.
“It’s my late Christmas present,” Morant smiled afterwards. This is what everyone wanted…” The audience stands and opens their mouths wide. He has just seen the first duel of a long series between two of the most fascinating players in the NBA. One is 24 years old, the other will celebrate his 20th birthday this January 4.
They have the future ahead of them but we have to believe that Victor Wembanyama, the future is already too far away. The French prodigy, frustrated at being limited to less than 25 minutes per match due to a recent sprained ankle, stunned the audience by forcing his return into play, 2 minutes from the end while the score was plays. “I wasn’t allowed to do it but I did it anyway,” admitted the Frenchman after the meeting. In the images, we actually see him warning an assistant of Gregg Popovich and deciding himself to return to the floor…
“It’s difficult, it’s frustrating, but of course the wisest option is to listen to the staff,” added Wembanyama. During the match, I told the coach: I can play more! Looking back, I understand the staff’s point of view, but at the moment, it’s difficult to accept. »
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