2023-06-23 02:27:47
Victor Wembanyama was chosen Thursday, June 22, as expected, in first position by the San Antonio Spurs during the NBA draft in New York, a historic first for a French player. The Chesnay giant succeeds legends David Robinson and Tim Duncan, both also chosen first overall by the Texas franchise in 1987 and 1997 respectively.
It’s a new page in the history of French basketball, and perhaps of the NBA, which was written when “Wemby”, his nickname, went up to the podium to shake hands with the commissioner of the NBA, Adam Silver.
The 19-year-old international is considered the greatest potential in world basketball since LeBron James, drafted twenty years ago, almost to the day.
Emotion
“It’s probably the best night of my life,” said the 2.24m phenom, able to dribble and shoot from distance like no player his size before him. “It’s a dream come true, he continued. It’s incredible. »
After the traditional handshake, the French prodigy wore a cap bearing the image of the silver spur which serves as the logo of the Texas franchise. A gesture that had already been made, twenty-two years earlier, by a certain Tony Parker, who left an immense mark in the history of Spurs with four rings of champions (2003, 2005, 2007, 2014) at the key.
“Even though it was expected,” tears seized him on the way down from the podium, he admitted. “When we are going to have a baby, we know it nine months in advance” and the emotion is no less.
“You make us dream”
Victor Wembanyama joins the great Spurs family, a franchise which has built, around coach Gregg Popovich, a culture of winning and intelligent play, which has become a benchmark in the NBA and around the world. San Antonio will nevertheless need its new number one to straighten out its recent sporting trajectory, marked by four seasons without a play-off.
“You make us dream”reacted French President Emmanuel Macron, from his Twitter account. “No doubt: you will mark the history of your sport. »
Victor Wembanyama, the first Frenchman number one in the NBA draft!
Cher @Vicw_32, you make us dream. No doubt: you will mark the history of your sport. pic.twitter.com/apxAaGUkS6
—Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) June 23, 2023
Dressed in an elegant dark green double-breasted suit signed Louis Vuitton, cinched in the back by a ribbon, the former Nanterre and Boulogne-Levallois player appeared very relaxed before the start of the ceremony. All smiles, he had, on his own initiative, signed autographs, in particular on a ball thrown by a fan from the stands, to the enthusiastic cries of clusters of fans. Even before the official selection by San Antonio, spectators were already sporting a Spurs jersey hit with the number one, the same one given to him on his descent from the podium.
“The Adventure Begins Now”
“I will give 100%, do everything in my power to make this franchise win”launched the neo-Spur, and “to have an impact on the fans and the community” from San Antonio. The young man is already planning his first season with ambition. ” My goalhe said, it’s getting closer and closer to the title and learning how to get there. »
“Wemby. The adventure begins now »French footballer Kylian Mbappé reacted in a tweet.
WEMBY ????????????????????????…
The story begins now.— Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe) June 23, 2023
Now officially entered the NBA on Thursday, Victor Wembanyama must fly to San Antonio on Friday, before an official presentation on Saturday. He should then quickly put on the Spurs tunic for the first time, well before the start of the next NBA season at the end of October.
world Cup
He is, in fact, expected at the Summer Leagues, the summer leagues traditionally dedicated to young neophytes as well as veterans looking for a contract. “I’m sure I’m going to play the Summer League” early July, he said Wednesday, without specifying whether he would take part in Sacramento (July 3 and 5), Las Vegas (July 7 to 17), or both.
One thing is certain, Wembanyama will not play “certainly not every game, because I had a long season before, and I have something after. » Ce ” something “it’s the Basketball World Cup, which will take place in Indonesia, where France will play its group matches, in the Philippines and in Japan, from August 25 to September 10. “It is always my will” to participate, “I’m waiting to agree with my frankness”.
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