Victor Wembanyama shows why he is the future at the Paris Games

[ad_1]

PARIS — If the NBA wanted to offer the people of France the real experience of fandom, Saturday’s game accomplished that mission completely.

After San Antonio beat Indiana by 30 on Thursday in the opening game, the tables were turned on Saturday as the Pacers beat the Spurs 136-98.

In many ways, that is the most authentic NBA experience anyone could ever hope for. What is more real than ebbs and flows, ups and downs and, frankly, varying performances?

While Parisians would obviously have loved to see the Spurs dominate once again with hometown hero Victor Wembanyama dropping another 30-bomb, that is simply not a realistic representation of where the second-year star is in his career.

The fact that the Spurs experienced wild highs and crazy lows is oddly a great unifier for their growing fan base in France. Besides, after the conclusion of Saturday’s game, Wembanyama shed light on what it’s all really about.

“This week was amazing,” Wembanyama said as an opening statement at the postgame news conference before taking questions. “I was just seeing my family. I’m not trying to get emotional, but everybody did their job to making this week incredible.”

Victor Wembanyama surveys the court as Pacers center Myles Turner defends Saturday in Paris. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)

Wembanyama failed in his quest to not be emotional with his eyes turning red and his voice slightly cracking.

“I did my best to make this week special for my team, for my family, my friends,” he said. “But people still found ways to surprise me, to make things feel like it mattered for them, and I matter for them. So it’s priceless.”

His deep appreciation for the constant outpour of love from his nation betrayed his attempt at keeping his face stoned — and we’re all better for it.

The 21-year-old has been busy this week with, well, everything. He’s taken his team to dinner, unveiled basketball courts, gone to numerous news conferences, made appearances at NBA events and, oh, he’s played two regular-season games as the featured player carrying the burden of a nation with over 68 million people on his slender back.

For…

[ad_2]
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/victor-wembanyama-shows-why-he-is-the-future-at-the-paris-games-012419007.html

Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2025-01-26 01:24:00

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.