Frenchman Victor Wembanyama, basketball prodigy surrounded by immense expectations, sees himself “ on the right path » at the end of his first NBA season, which ended on Sunday April 14. He looks forward to the Paris Olympic Games, then what comes next with the San Antonio Spurs.
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Spared by his franchise, Victor Wembanyama did not play Sunday in San Antonio’s 82nd and final regular season game, won 123 to 95 against the Detroit Pistons. Eliminated for a long time from the race for the final stages (play-offs), the Spurs, long last in the West, finally finished 14th out of 15 in their conference with the 26th record (out of 30) in the entire NBA: 22 victories and 60 defeats, exactly the same number as last season, before the draft in the number 1 position of the French giant.
This lack of progress and sometimes catastrophic collective basketball (franchise record of 18 defeats in a row broken in December), before an improvement at the end of the season, never made “Wemby” doubt. “ I’ve seen people doubt, but me, not for a single secondassured the Frenchman at a press conference. I never thought I wasn’t in the best possible place. I would have liked to do better, to be in the play-offs. But although it’s hard today, I think about the long term, and I trust my teammates and the project 100%. » With such transition times, at 19 years old, why would he doubt?
An alien with lunar statistics
The Frenchman is only a rookie in the big American league, but Gregg Popovich, his coach, was not afraid to quickly place him at the heart of his Spurs’ game plan. The former Boulogne-Levallois player first had to learn to be patient, with slightly limited playing time at the very start of the season, then due to a stubborn ankle. “ I would have liked to play all the matches and not miss any, but I quite agree with the way we managed the season “, said the person concerned, who ended up continuing in the last part of the season, whether in terms of playing time or XXL performances.
The next few sentences could turn into a litany of numbers. Here are at least a few: 21.4 points per game, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 3.6 blocks and 1.2 steals in 71 appearances. He is by far the best blocker in the NBA this season, is applying for the title of best rookie and also that of best defender of the year. “ It would be far from a theft if Rudy (Gobert) got it », smiles “Wemby” all the same, during an interview given to various French media in San Antonio.
Statistically, the Frenchman follows in the footsteps of the greatest of this sport, passed before him by this category of future immense talents, like LeBron James or Kevin Durant, to name a few. Even if it means choosing a significant figure, to take the measure of the first season in the United States of the native of Yvelines, that of the quadruple double is perhaps the most telling (minimum 10 units in four statistical categories among points, assists , rebounds, blocks and steals). It’s been 30 years since anyone did it across the Atlantic, and the 20-year-old came close to one block and two assists against Denver in early April.
A physique not so fragile?
Another great satisfaction, the physical state of the young Frenchman. Standing 2.24m tall but with the speed and mobility of a player 20 centimeters shorter, injuries were feared. Ultimately, apart from a painful ankle, which forced him to rest for the last match of the season, the feared physical fragility never revealed itself. “ I was surprised by how my body was able to maintain the intensity for an entire season, which is what a body is capable of withstandingrelishes Wembanyama. I’m happy with how it went, how I managed my body. »
Did he surpass expectations? Not his: “ That’s not how I feel. Every day I try to do more, to achieve new records, to achieve more victories. My expectations are high. » The Frenchman with his unique combination of size and agility also delighted his ever-increasing fans. Several “highlights” flooded social networks, for example with spectacular defensive actions followed by a furious dunk in attack.
“ I don’t want our next season to end so soonhe warns. I want to go to the play-offs. We have so many details to improve. We’re going to add a new brick every day, to end up having our house », insists the Frenchman, as a young leader. There are still areas for progress, obviously. He who has already made good progress in his long-range shooting and understanding of the game still loses a lot of balls, for a man to whom we entrust the keys to the team. But as summer approaches, that’s not the important thing.
After a little rest, Victor Wembanyama will be able to concentrate on the Paris Olympic Games (July 26 – August 11), he who is all the more anticipated with the Blues, reigning vice-champions, that he has so far experienced few senior selections (4). “ It’s my dream to play in the Olympics. When I’m on the floor, I’ll give 200%, like I always do with this jersey. But I will also be present with my childish eyes to appreciate this moment. »