From our correspondent in the United States,
“A generational talent”, “an alien”, “the greatest potential since LeBron James”, “the future of the NBA”… For a year, superlatives and hyperboles have accompanied every step of Victor Wembanyama. And after almost three weeks on the court, the American media – and basketball fans – continue to scrutinize every match of the French prodigy who “ignores all that with incredible maturity at 19”, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich recently welcomed. . Wemby, for his part, does not ignite, even after his 38 points slammed against the Sun of his idol Kevin Durant. And don’t panic after disasters against the Clippers and the Knicks, and a series of five consecutive defeats, the last of which this Sunday evening against Miami (113-118).
“I’ll leave you, I don’t want to miss Victor during the warm-up. » With his Tim Duncan jersey on his shoulders, Michael, “a Spurs fan since 1998”, would undoubtedly not have braved the Los Angeles traffic jams to come see a match between the Clippers and San Antonio last year, when his Heart team finished last in the Western Conference. But the draft lottery and a 2m23 giant changed all that. “To see someone that big move so fluidly is just crazy. Wembanyama is intelligent, he puts the team first, it’s a good fit for Spurs. He sometimes looked a little lost during the match but in the last quarter he demanded the ball. It’s a closer. »
French expats present
In the press room located in the basement of the old Staples Center, which the real Angelinos still refuse to call “Crypto.com Arena”, American journalists debate the Spurs’ chances of qualifying for the playoffs. The consensus: it will be complicated this year for the youngest team in the league, with Wemby (19 years old), Sochan (20 years old), Vassel (23 years old) and Johnson (24 years old). After all, king LeBron James and Kevin Durant had to wait until their 3rd NBA season to taste the post-season.
In an elevator, a family chats in French. “We couldn’t pass up this opportunity to see Wembanyama play. Plus, tickets started at $35. In January, when the Spurs return against the Lakers, it will be almost triple,” explains the father. Because that’s also the expat life: we stay connected to the motherland through good food and sport, from the football or rugby World Cups to the exploits of our Frenchies in the NBA.
Unfortunately for this family and the students from the Lycée français de LA who made the trip, Wembanyama had a catastrophic start to the match. After two missed baskets and two lost balls in a few minutes, “Pop” calls for a timeout and takes the Frenchman out. Who finished with as many turnovers as points (4) at the break. The butchery continues and San Antonio takes a suitcase of 40 points. “The Clippers were too much for Wembanyama and the Spurs,” headlines the LA Times. The Frenchman does not hide at a press conference:
Youth is not an excuse, we will have to watch the match again to try to understand. It’s a story of perseverance. It’s just a defeat, it’s only the start of the season, we’re learning. In the locker room, no one had their heads down. We’re going to get back to our work. »
Alongside Shaquille O’Neal and David Robinson
But if this team is young, it also has pride. The Spurs respond on the Phoenix floor and give the Sun nightmares for Halloween, with a victory on the buzzer after being 20 points behind. The hero of the match was winger Keldon Johnson with 27 points, including the last basket after snatching the ball from Durant’s hands. But it’s Wembanyama’s “dunk poster” on poor Eubanks that’s playing over and over on ESPN and the networks.
Two days later, the Frenchman signed his first benchmark performance, again against Phoenix: 38 points, with 15 of 26 shooting, and ten rebounds. Wembanyama is the first rookie since Shaquille O’Neal with more than 100 points and 10 blocks in his first five games. And among the Spurs, only David Robinson scored more than 38 points in his first season. Two references that are over 30 years old.
“I don’t see anyone like him in the NBA. I know we’re both tall and skinny, I know he watched me play when I was younger, but he watched a lot of others and took inspiration from them. It is unique. He will create his own story,” greeted Kevin Durant after the meeting.
Air pocket
But as is often the case for a rookie who joins a team in the process of rebuilding, the season promises to be up and down. The Spurs have just had five consecutive defeats. One that hurts in overtime against Toronto, then two butcheries against Indiana (152-111) and at Madison Square Garden against the Knicks (126-105). Wembanyama confirms his irregularity in shooting when he faces aggressive defenders (3 baskets out of 12, then 4 out of 14). The New York tabloids enjoy it and title “Wemby too short”, “French diss” (instead of French kiss), and “Pas notre jardin slim” (cringalet).
Popovich, who for the moment leaves a lot of freedom to his protégé in attack so that he can progress, and especially insists on defense, goes for his little post-match tackle, noting that only Johnson and Collins survived. And Wemby? “He moved well. But like I said, there were only two guys who were okay. »
On Sunday, the Spurs remained in the game against Miami until the final moments but Wembanyama was again too approximate in shooting (8 out of 22) and lost 7 balls – his highest of the season – compared to 10 for all his players. teammates reunited.
Come on, let’s not be too sad: even if he plays on alternating current, Victor Wembanyama is for the moment the best rookie at the start of the season with Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma), and his moments of dazzling remain a pleasure for the eyes . Jabari Smith Jr, from Houston, who was dunked on like a child despite his 2m08, before taking a double against, can attest to this.