2024-01-05 08:23:09
Long after the end of the match, marked by Milwaukee’s narrow victory in San Antonio (125-121), the images still flash through the heads of the 19,000 stunned spectators. They have just witnessed, like around 2 million Americans glued to their TV, the first duel between Victor Wembanyama and Giannis Antetokounmpo, and they still can’t believe it. The Milwaukee Bucks star and the San Antonio Spurs rookie looked for each other all game. They often found themselves on each other’s path. The Homeric duel turned to Antetokounmpo’s advantage on the scoreboard, but Victor Wembanyama with his high-class gestures entered the hearts of America that night.
Two of the NBA’s unique talents went toe-to-toe with rim-rattling dunks, big-time swats and down-to-the-wire buckets as the Bucks pulled out the W in a THRILLER.
Giannis: 44 PTS (19-28 FGM), 14 REB, 7 AST
Wemby: 27 PTS, 9 REB, 5 BLK pic.twitter.com/Siopwyc8EZ— NBA (@NBA) January 5, 2024
On his 20th birthday, he stood 2.22 m tall and stood up against one of the favorites for the title: 27 points, 9 rebounds, 5 blocks and actions, each more spectacular than the last, which responded blow for blow to those of Giannis Antetokounmpo on the other side of the floor. “I made sure that my minutes in play counted,” smiles humbly the number 1 of the last Draft. I grew up watching Giannis play, he’s one of the best. I’m a competitor and I want to compete with everyone and be the bad guy on the floor. It’s promising to have managed to fight against a title candidate and that’s what Pop (the Spurs coach) told us back in the locker room. »
Well helped by an excellent Devin Vassell (34 points), the Frenchman once again showed that his talent can dominate the NBA, but above all he did it at prime time, on national TV, on the TNT channel. , where former stars Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley sat on set and barely found what to say.
“It was great to face him”
“He’s incredible, he can score when he wants, it was great to face him,” Antetokounmpo conceded as he left the floor. I’ve never seen anything like it. » “He’s wonderful,” jubilant his trainer Gregg Popovich. Have I ever seen anyone achieve what they did tonight? The answer is no, what do you want me to tell you? »
What he did ? Pretty much everything and that’s what makes it so special. However, he started the game by missing four consecutive three-point shots. On the bench, his coach encourages him: “If you have to take shots, take them, don’t hesitate! » The second quarter marks the start of the master class. From the first seconds of play, he throws the ball against the board and recovers it to dunk. “I’m full of resources!” smiles Wemby. If I can’t dribble anymore, I can always do something else. »
This is not the first time that the NBA has witnessed action of this type this season: Chet Holmgren, the other major rookie, the Oklahoma City player, also tried it with the same success. Earlier in the day, the NBA had once again named Holmgren rookie of the month, for December after November already. The public votes for the future All-Star Game (provisional) also yesterday placed the Frenchman far behind the biggest names. Can we imagine that all this got the competitor Victor Wembanyama burned? Absolutely. “I am dedicated to what I do, and at the end of the day, I know I will get what I deserve, every match is a statement from now on,” promises the Frenchman, the determined look.
Dribble on Lillard, counter on Giannis
At halftime, a San Antonio fan wins $10,000 by hitting a shot from the middle of the floor, and on TNT we have fun comparing the numbers of Wemby and Giannis. A column for one, a column for the other. This little game will last until the end of the meeting.
At the start of the second half, Victor Wembanyama made the game irrational by rolling the ball behind his back to eliminate Damian Lillard and dunk over the head of Brook Lopez. He continues his demonstration by converting almost all of his attempts. Giannis responded by crushing everything in his path, and even dunk on him, just like what Ja Morant had achieved two days earlier. At the start of the last quarter, the teams are tied. Popovich defines the procedure on TV: “We have to play for each other, no one can succeed alone, except perhaps Victor. » In front of their screen, even active players don’t miss a beat. “Wemby so nice!” », Tweets Philadelphia point guard Tyrese Maxey.
The match ends with the same rhythm: Wemby against Lillard, everyone stands up in the room. With 20 seconds to go, when he has already committed 5 fouls, he does not give up and rises full length against Antetokounmpo. The counter is also perfect! San Antonio fails to equalize on the following action: Tre Jones does not convert his three-point shot. He is consoled by… Wembanyama, a decidedly model teammate and leader. “I liked everything, I found them all great, I have nothing else to say, we’ll see you at the bar,” Popovich said at a press conference, visibly euphoric to have seen his team, last in the Western Conference, also fighting brilliantly against the Bucks. And certainly to have realized, once again, the nugget he has in his hands.
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