While Frenchman Victor Wembanyama is about to really launch his career on the NBA floor, LeBron James, 38, continues the adventure. The new NBA season begins on October 24.
4 mins
Indestructible, Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James begins his 21st season in the NBA on Tuesday October 24 at the age of 38. James, among the biggest stars in the history of US basketball, will continue to write his legend with a 6th season in the popular Lakers franchise, which is chasing a record 18th title to overtake the Boston Celtics. In the spring, swept away in the Western Conference final by future champion Denver, he expressed doubts for the first time about the rest of his career. “ At that point I was exhausted, mentally, I wasn’t quite there anymore “, explained the “King”. “ I feel like I still have some reserve, I’m happy to leave for another season hoping to lead this team to the promised land », assures the four-time NBA champion (2012, 2013 with Miami, 2016 with Cleveland and 2020 with the Lakers).
James, despite his age, has managed to maintain an immense statistical contribution, he who was still averaging nearly 29 points per game (8.3 rebounds, 6.8 assists) last year. His stats and longevity allowed him to become the best scorer in the history of the league last season (now 38,652 points) ahead of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. This season he could overtake Kevin Willis, Kevin Garnett and Karl Malone to take 6th place among players with the most matches played. LeBron James is also 4th in assists, 9th in steals, 10th in defensive rebounds.
Victor Wembanyama was not born when the “King” debuted
Victor Wembanyama, attraction of the season and the most anticipated “rookie” since James, was not born when the “King” debuted in 2003. On October 25, the first NBA match of the career of the N.1 of the draft last June. The San Antonio Spurs host Luka Doncic’s Dallas Mavericks. “ I think he’s going to have a good first season. The question is: what does it mean to have a good season? Is it improving your stats, winning matches, qualifying your team for the playoffs? For me, Victor will have a good one if he progresses, period. He’s not supposed to be the best NBA player at the end of the season », comments his compatriot Boris Diaw in the columns of Le Parisien.
Wembanyama had shone with the San Antonio Spurs for his second pre-season game, won against the Miami Heat. The Frenchman had compiled 23 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocks in just under 23 minutes on the floor. The Frenchman put on a show for his first pre-season match, lost (122-121) against Oklahoma City. He had shown a glimpse of his unique dexterity despite his size (2.24 m according to the NBA), notably with a left-handed lay-up (his “bad” hand) after a “spin move” (quick turn on himself). ) spectacular. Skillful at three points (2 out of 5), the Frenchman signed a powerful dunk in transition, but also lost the ball four times due to a few blunders. Left during the third quarter, he did not return to the field afterward.
“ This is what I expected from this match. That gives me hope, we had some great sequences of play in the first half », Wembanyama reacted. “ As a rookie, I just have to give 100 percent. But I can do even better. » « I found it good », Commented his trainer Gregg Popovich.
A mid-season tournament as a novelty
The NBA inaugurates its mid-season tournament held from November 7 to December 9, the matches of which, played on Tuesday and Friday, also count for the championship (apart from the final). All franchises are divided into six groups of five, with four matches to be played per team. The first six and the two best runners-up reach the main draw, played in a dry match with quarters, then a ” final oven » with semis (December 7) and final (December 9) in Las Vegas.
The NBA has also tightened rules regarding rest for “star” players when they are not injured. To claim an individual trophy at the end of the season, a player must, for example, have played at least 65 of the 82 regular season matches.