2023-10-10 10:14:46
The start of the NBA season is approaching and Victor Wembanyama seems more and more ready to shine brightly. Monday evening (2 hours tonight in France), he amazed the basketball world for his first “real” outing with the San Antonio Spurs jersey, a trip to Oklahoma City for the first preparation match of the season, a confrontation which resembles in style what the player will experience every two or three days for the next six months, as soon as the championship starts on October 25. A match concluded with a narrow defeat for his team (122-121), but with an individual victory for the French prodigy: 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 interceptions in 19 minutes. And above all the lasting impression that a love story is indeed being born between the most prestigious basketball competition and the French athlete.
“I’m made for this,” he assures after the match, sitting on a chair that is too small in the basement of the Paycom Center, in OKC’s interview room. “The game, the movement, the spaces: I felt very good,” he continues. This is a hopeful first. »
And for good reason: Wembanyama amazed the gallery. During the first quarter, he put together a spectacular counter attack from nowhere on Williams, who was 2.02 m tall, then a penetration concluded with a powerful basket against Chet Holmgren, before raising his arms and showing his muscles, NBA big arm style. “He did that?,” laughed his coach Gregg Popovich. I have not seen ! » Wemby and Holmgren (number 2 in the 2022 Draft) have maintained a small rivalry since the American was preferred to the Frenchman, in 2021, as best player in the U-19 World Cup.
“They had a few duels against each other during the meeting,” Popovich said. This shows their character and competitiveness. And they did it for good reasons, not by trying anything to dominate at all costs, but by respecting the game of basketball. It was really fun for everyone to watch. » In the second quarter, Wembanyama continued his offensive recital by dribbling through the heart of the defense and finishing with his left hand in a high-class action. “This is not normal,” tweets the official NBA account. In the process, he made two three-point baskets, including one off balance, with his legs apart. Pure Wembanyama!
Comfortable offensively, corrected defensively
During this first, the Frenchman was mainly used for his offensive qualities. We have often seen him project quickly forward as soon as the ball is recovered for rapid attacks, for what should be one of the trademarks of Spurs this season. He also provoked a lot with the ball in his hands, as if he wanted to test himself in the face of adversity. He showed great success (8 out of 13).
Defensively, he fulfilled his role but we believe there is a very big margin for improvement in this sector. Popovich has also corrected him several times. “It’s something normal for any new player,” says his coach. This will undoubtedly be the weak point of all players starting in the NBA. » “At one point, I tried to intercept too early, too quickly, and he immediately let me know,” explains the player. He knows very well how to measure the amount of advice he gives. He tries not to tell me too much. But I warned him that I could receive a lot, that he could go there. »
“Very excited” by this first, including the hours preceding the meeting, Wemby also got to know the NBA level. “The level of the players has nothing to do with what I have experienced so far,” he believes. Almost everyone is athletic here. Almost everyone is capable of doing everything, of dunking, of blocking. Tactically, we could compare with what I experienced, but individually, it has nothing to do. »
He endures the physical shock of the NBA
His first “with live bullets” leads to some observations: his talent is decidedly incredible, he supports the physical shock of the NBA, and he is not impressed for two cents, nor for taking even difficult shots, nor for assuming his responsibilities in the game. From now on, he will be judged above all on his ability to reproduce similar performances when the level rises, and to reproduce them over time, with regularity. “He’s intelligent, he’ll understand how to adapt if I can’t do it for him,” said Popovich. We’re still learning how to use it, but it’s already very good. In this first match, he just wanted to enjoy and play basketball, something he likes to do and is very good at…” Wembanyama will continue his series of preparation matches on Friday at the Miami reception .
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