2023-10-21 05:47:08
San Francisco (AFP) – Victor Wembanyama, escorted by excessive expectations before his NBA debut on Wednesday, succeeded in his last preparation outing, leading his Spurs to victory once morest the Golden State Warriors (122-117) in San Francisco on Friday.
Published on: 10/21/2023 – 07:47 Modified on: 10/21/2023 – 07:46
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In a match without stakes and without much intensity, “Wemby” got a little closer to the fantasy NBA and its spotlights on Friday.
He actually met for the first time on the floor one of the superstars of the biggest basketball league, the four-time champion Stephen Curry, a veritable demigod for the fans of the Chase Center, on the edge of the calm waters of the bay. from San Francisco.
“It’s going to happen to me, to play once morest guys that I watched growing up,” appreciated “Wemby”.
Facetiously, Curry (1.88 m) presented himself in front of the giant (2.24 m) for the traditional jump ball at kick-off, seeing the ball volleyed without surprise by the Frenchman.
Curry (35 years old), rather discreet (11 points, 1 of 6 from long distance), was able to observe the qualities of Wembanyama up close, easily going up to dunk once morest him during the third quarter.
As in his first three pre-season matches, Wembanyama shone, finishing as the game’s top scorer (19 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 interception, 5 blocks) in just 21 minutes on the floor.
The No. 1 of the last draft in June amazed the public during the first quarter with 3 blocks during the period, including two very close, one followed by a dunk, and the other by a shot. three point assassin in transition.
Wednesday, October 25, the Frenchman must play his first NBA match once morest Dallas at home, the day following the official start of the season.
San Antonio’s star rookie Victor Wembanyama during a preseason game once morest Golden State, October 20, 2023 in San Francisco © Loren Elliott / AFP
“I already knew that, but I now have the certainty that I can be competitive from the start of the season with this team. We have seen real collective performances.”
Against the Warriors, he was able to get a glimpse of what his opponents will have in store for him, surely intrigued by the attention that a player who is just a “rookie” receives.
Veteran leader Chris Paul (38), who came to strengthen the Warriors this summer, used his dribbling to make the Frenchman dance, vigorously pushed back with his shoulder on a counter-attack by Canadian winger Andrew Wiggins.
Nothing to destabilize “Wemby” who, as in most of the four pre-season matches he played in ten days, left definitively in the middle of the 3rd quarter, his duty accomplished, spared by his coach Gregg Popovich.
Wembanyama is scheduled to play his first NBA game on October 25 at home once morest Dallas, the day following the official start of the season.
© 2023 AFP
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