Arriving this Monday morning on French soil with “his” Spurs, the 21-year-old prodigy gave his first impressions after a training session in Nanterre. D-3 before San Antonio-Indiana in Paris in the NBA.
Emotions of finding France and Nanterre
“A lot of emotion obviously, seeing familiar faces again, from the club or even from the city, the people who take care of the room… It’s really nice. We also find some forgotten sensations, even if they don't date back very long (smile). My state of mind? Lots of excitement, it was even a little surreal to see all my teammates in this room where I spent so much time. It's a bit like two worlds colliding. For now, it's a good match. It’s nice, there’s emotion.”
Bring the NBA in Paris in his wake
“It’s special because you don’t expect that in a career. I am approaching this trip in my own way, with the idea of giving back to the French public, trying to please many people who will never have the opportunity to go to the United States. It's really important to me. We arrived a few hours ago, but it’s already incredible.”
His expectations of the week
“Already, performance. We keep the main objective in mind. Even though we have just traveled, taken an 8-hour plane ride, it was important to do this little cleaning up (on Maurice-Thorez's floor just before this press briefing). Even if there are a lot of people in the room and lots of cameras, it's performance above all else. Then, personally, it's also about recharging my batteries a little, seeing people I can't see during the year, my family, my friends… I think it will be very beneficial for all of us.”
How he feels physically after this trip
“A little sore, that's normal, but not much more than usual in fact, we're used to somewhat complicated trips. There, we have a few days before the next match, which rarely happens in a season. So I'm good physically. I am within the norm for a season, or even a little above.”
The main thing always remains the athlete.
Victor Wembanyama
Spurs and France
“It is a source of pride (that the Spurs come to play in France), but also a responsibility, first of all sporting but also in terms of the image that the Spurs have always communicated. The main thing always remains the athlete.”
-How to stay focused and fit despite distractions
“It’s very much an individual responsibility. It is always the priority, whatever the environment, recovery, nutrition… And this even if there will be time to relax too, see the family, enjoy. It's very much an individual responsibility because the staff does everything right, they give all the advice, everything you need to be healthy. We are the ones on the ground, it is up to us to take care of our bodies. (…) It's an attention to have, but I will try to keep my pre-match routine, as I do in every city in the United States while traveling. I don't have anything planned for match day, that's my priority, I won't see anyone on match day, as usual. It’s psychological work but you also have to put yourself in a situation, you don’t do things randomly.”
Her relationship with Chris Paul
“It’s very natural, very organic, we don’t try to fit into roles. It's certain that he has a bit of a mentoring role, he has a lot of things to say and relevant things. There is “mentorship” that is a little less healthy. But that’s not the case here, it’s very natural, nothing forced, so we can actually call him a bit of a mentor.”
The audience
“It pushes you to be active, a lot of excitement, but there is no reason to want to push yourself more. I know the audience will be there. In this case, I have not yet seen the public, but I know that the public will be present, noisy. It’s definitely a strength I can use. It will just be a bonus.”
What to expect during matches
“We can expect from a team that will try to end a losing streak, some attention to detail, to scouting. That's the priority. I learned growing up, whether in chick, minimal or pro, that to have great matches, you must not come in with this state of mind (shine at all costs, Editor's note). You have to focus on the fundamentals, the basics, the flow will come by itself.”
What he has improved on since the Olympics
“In a little bit of everything, especially the knowledge of myself, of my teammates. Afterwards it translates into many sectors. There is progress on certain stats, others which are maintained. But we have also progressed a lot thanks to Harrison (Barnes) and Chris (Paul), they have helped a lot, we are getting closer and closer to the recipe to win.
Comments collected at a press conference in Nanterre
