It's Christmas, and at Christmas the NBA has gotten into the habit of treating us to several big games on the program. It starts at 6 p.m. this evening: Victor Wembanyama and his Spurs travel to the legendary Madison Square Garden in New York to face the Knicks. The ideal scene to make an impression?
A little over a year ago, on November 8, 2023, Victor Wembanyama played his very first match at the Garden. A historic room in which he absolutely wanted to shine, but where he had… failed.
Highly anticipated by New York fans, Wemby only scored two points in the first half (14 in total), as many as his number of airballs in this match. And the Spurs ended up losing largely 126-105.
Overrated chants for Wemby in the Garden pic.twitter.com/NqMSb7Ajiu
— KnickShowYo (@KNICKSHOWY0) https://twitter.com/KNICKSHOWY0/status/1722439652144017766?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Since then, Victor Wembanyama has shut the mouths of all those who considered him “overrated”, and now returns to Madison Square Garden with the firm intention of shining on the most beautiful NBA stage.
The Player of the Week in the West has been playing like an All-Star for several weeks (29 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 blocks on average over the last 15 games) and under his leadership, the Spurs have become a respectable team in the Western Conference (record of 15 wins – 14 losses). This match in New York – on national television – represents a magnificent opportunity for Wemby to show that he is indeed the alien he thinks he is.
Opposite, the Knicks of Karl-Anthony Towns will obviously want to show that they are the bosses of the Big Apple. We're talking about a team that has found its cruising speed (8 wins in 10 games), which is on the podium in the Eastern Conference, and which has the second best NBA attack while making progress in defense. In summary: a hell of a challenge awaits Victor Wembanyama.
With the win over Portland, the Spurs will go into their Christmas Day matchup against the Knicks at MSG with a record of over .500 . . . something very few people would have expected at the start of the season.
This team is good. Wemby is incredible. The future is bright. GSG! pic.twitter.com/nbZlO3ZEoP
— Zachary Colwell (@zachcolwellPtR) https://twitter.com/zachcolwellPtR/status/1870674117088952542?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Except that Victor likes to take on challenges. And he's the type to shine when he's in the spotlight.
While Knicks player Josh Hart has already started trolling the (Tottenham?) Spurs on Twitter, Wemby is probably preparing an XXL performance for his very first – but clearly not the last – Christmas Day in his career. If he explodes at Madison Square Garden, Victor will change a little more dimension, which the NBA can only hope given the significant drop in audiences this season.
Victor Wembanyama in New York for the big Christmas match, it's this evening from 6 p.m. in the basketball Mecca. Even with a full stomach, you'll have to be there to eat basketball all evening!
