2023-07-08 06:21:00
Aurélie Sacchelli, Media365, published on Saturday July 08, 2023 at 08:21
Victor Wembanyama had to settle for 9 points in his first Summer League game with San Antonio, but he made up for his lack of success with 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 5 blocks in the victory against Charlotte.
History will remember (or not) that it was with nine points on the clock that Victor Wembanyama concluded his first game in the jersey of San Antonio. The draft No. 1 made his big debut in the Las Vegas Summer League on Friday, the competition that allows franchises to test their drafted players, their players in their second year of contract and possible recruits. And the 19-year-old French basketball player was not successful in the match won 76-68 against Charlotte since he only scored 2 shots including 13, including 1 of 6 from three points. But let’s not forget that the three-point line is further away in the NBA than in Europe, hence the need to adjust. Victor Wembanyama, who occupied the positions of strong winger and pivot during this meeting, still played 28 minutes, and he compensated for his lack of address by filling in other statistical boxes: 4 out of 4 in throws -francs, 8 rebounds (all defensive), 3 assists and 5 blocks, for 3 lost balls and 4 faults.
Wembanyama wants to improve his physical condition
After the match, the former Boulogne-Levallois player admitted that he still had a lot of work to do, especially at the physical level. “It was really special to wear this shirt for the first time. It’s really an honor. Overall, I’m happy that we won this match. There is no better way to start for your first. Honestly, I didn’t really know what I was doing on the pitch tonight. I’m trying to learn for the next game. I think the biggest improvement I need to make is to be ready and to be ready to react to the leader’s systems and stay connected. I think there’s a lot of conditioning to be done. Especially with our style of play, we run a lot. It’s really exhausting. Even though it was 40 minutes tonight when I was substituted I was still tired and exhausted. I therefore think that there is a lot of conditioning to be done”, recognized “Wemby” in remarks relayed by ESPN. We will also remember that during this match, his French teammate at Spurs Sidy Cissoko scored a point and took 7 rebounds in 22 minutes. Opposite, the No. 2 draft Brandon Miller finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
Kamagaté, the only other Frenchman in sight
On the French side, the former Paris player, drafted last summer by Denver and who will play in Milan next season, Ismaël Kamagaté, scored 5 points and took 6 rebounds in 22 minutes during the Nuggets’ 85-92 defeat against Milwaukee. Bucks where Hugo Besson, the former teammate of Wembanyama in Boulogne-Levallois, drafted last year, did not play, by decision of the coach. Rayan Rupert, drafted by Portland, has meanwhile not scored a single point in 14 minutes during the 99-100 loss against Houston. Yves Pons, who played at ASVEL this season and dreams of returning to the NBA after his short adventure in Memphis in 2021-22 (12 games), wears the Atlanta jersey for this Summer League and did not score a point in 16 minutes in the 76-80 loss to Sacramento. The Summer League continues until July 17. Spurs’ next game is scheduled for Sunday night against Portland.
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