After a first learning season, the Frenchman aims much higher with the San Antonio Spurs.
“We want to put ourselves in this situation of being a winning team, a play-off team”explained Frenchman Victor Wembanyama, star of the San Antonio Spurs, on Monday before his second NBA season which will begin at the end of October.
After a difficult first season collectively (22 wins – 60 losses, 14th out of 15 in the Western Conference), Wembanyama (20 years old, 2.24 m), silver medalist at the Paris Games this summer, displayed his ambitions, who always attracts all eyes at the Spurs training center in northern San Antonio (Texas).
Tell us about your summer with that Olympic silver medal…
Between the preparation, the Olympic Games, it was a great experience, mentally very demanding. The fact that the Olympics were concentrated on six very high intensity matches was very physically and tactically demanding. The first thing I told myself when I came back here was that I had a lot to learn from these Olympics. It’s a unique experience, things that I will use my whole career.
Q: What emotions did this final lost against the United States give you?
The emotions started when we qualified for the final. I felt privileged to have this experience. We were focused. We built something with this team. The end was a kind of relief, but there were too many emotions for me to contain. I had to scream, cry, let the emotions out.
Twelve-time All-Star point guard Chris Paul (39) joined the Spurs this summer, what do you think?
He’s a player I remember watching a lot as a kid. I’m eager to. We know that it will stick well with us, we want to let him be himself so that he can teach us things. It started from day one, it’s very important. He has this desire to transmit within him.
You gained more muscle mass this summer…
My weight is a natural process. It is important to work in a way that is healthy for the body, to respect the identity of the body. I emphasize deep strength, not necessarily mass, which comes naturally, it is the result of good work this summer. My power has been increasing every year since forever. I want to continue. The main aspect that allows me to improve my game is the athletic side. I was able to work two months in San Antonio before leaving for the Games, these two months took me through a milestone. After the Olympics I just did 4/5 weeks of training which took me to another level.
What do you expect for your second NBA season?
One of the things we talked about with the coach is that I will no longer have a second, third, fourth chance per match. If we want to win now, I must be a leader first by example. There will be no more room for these errors. There is a lot of mental work to do. We will encounter new difficulties this year. We want to put ourselves in this situation of being a winning team, a play-off team. It is a culture that must be established. Bad habits are easier to adopt than good ones. Reaching the play-offs or play-offs is the minimum objective.
What is your role within Spurs?
I am used to being a leader by example, in the locker room and on both ends of the field. As much tactically as in the spirit of the group, I want to be, for example, the basis of the defense, and also a little in attack. If I meet my standards and help the team in the right way I will have a leading role in attack and defense. It’s something that has to happen naturally. +Boss+ isn’t too strong a word, but it’s not the one I prefer. A boss is rather someone who directs and puts others to work.
