The sequence takes six, seven seconds. With time remaining in the final quarter, the San Antonio Spurs were still trailing Phoenix, who had led the entire game, by three points. Barely enough to blink and swing a match. First thanks to Wembanyama, on the lookout for the rebound in front of the basket, then, immediately, thanks to Keldon Johnson, top scorer of the match (27 points). The latter snatched the ball from Kevin Durant’s hands to score with one second remaining, putting San Antonio in front for the first time in the match. At the only moment that counts.
“It’s a huge interception. We didn’t have a great game, but we learn every day and we are on the right path,” said Wembanyama, author of 18 points, 8 rebounds and 5 blocks in 28 minutes.
Discreet at the start of the match, the 19-year-old Frenchman sounded the revolt of his team in the last period by stringing together two blocks and an acrobatic basket, the ball thrown back over his head. It was also he who allowed the Texans to stick to the score in the final moments with a quick mid-range shot and a tap following a teammate’s missed shot, just before Johnson’s decisive action.
The No. 1 of the last draft, surrounded by immense expectations, thus achieved the first away victory of his young NBA career, which began last week. After four games, the Spurs have a balanced record (2 wins, 2 losses), starting on a much better basis than last year (22 wins, 60 losses).
“KD, he’s like on TV”
The evening duel pitted the young Frenchman against one of the big stars of the league, the American Kevin Durant (35 years old), double NBA champion (2017 and 2018), still orphan of the two other stars of the Suns, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, injured.
Often beaten, “Wemby” still managed an action just before halftime that immediately overwhelmed social networks: a dribble on Durant on the three-point line before a left-handed “poster” dunk on pivot Drew Eubanks .
“KD, he’s like he’s on TV!” As I imagined for my first match. Sometimes I think these players were my idols for ten years. But I have to pull myself together because they’re just going to try to walk all over me during the games. So idol or not, I have to get into them,” commented Wembanyama.