After Spurs training this morning at the Accor Arena, Victor Wembanyama appeared in front of journalists to answer a few questions regarding the NBA Paris Games, and in particular the excitement surrounding the two Spurs – Pacers matches in the capital.
Victor Wembanyama has already experienced a lot in his young career, but he is currently immersed in a unique experience.
The French phenom is back home – in Paris – as a young NBA superstar, to play two games with his Spurs team at the Accor Arena. He saw the enormous enthusiasm which surrounded him when he made his debut in San Antonio in 2023, he saw the enthusiasm which could surround French basketball during the 2024 Olympic Games, now it is as if he brought together a little two as part of the NBA Paris Games.
“I definitely feel a different energy,” Wemby said at a press conference. “But I'm waiting to see what it will be like on match days, around the venue. I haven't been out in Paris much, I haven't had the opportunity to see it with my own eyes yet.
But yes, it’s different, it’s a different fanbase, there are fans who wait their whole life or all year for the chance to see an NBA game.”
NBA matches in Paris are always eagerly awaited since the Grande Ligue settled in France in 2020 for regular season matches. And it doesn't matter what the poster is. But with the return of Victor Wembanyama to France, the excitement around the Paris Games is necessarily taking on a new dimension.
The one who was born in Chesnay in the Paris region, the one who was trained in Nanterre, the one who has just won a silver medal at the Olympics and who is considered the new star of world basketball, finds an audience committed to his cause. All this under the Spurs jersey, Tony Parker's former team, for two matches against the Pacers who are gaining strength. The energy is necessarily “different”.
The objective now for Victor will obviously be to unleash two big performances on Thursday and Saturday evening to offer French fans the best gift at the start of 2025.
Other statements from Victor Wembanyama
Victor Wembanyama ???? :
“Developing basketball is one of my ambitions, I would love to do it in Africa!” pic.twitter.com/AKTAfoYOlj
— Robin Wolff (TrashTalk) (@robinwolff12) https://twitter.com/robinwolff12/status/1882025274025374020?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Victor Wembanyama on his desire to perform in Paris:
-“It’s very important, in the NBA we have a series of matches and you have to stay focused. We are always focused on the next one and even if it is in an incredible context for me, I am fully focused” ???? pic.twitter.com/dUqLinS1w2
— Robin Wolff (TrashTalk) (@robinwolff12) https://twitter.com/robinwolff12/status/1882025858812285019?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Victor Wembanyama on his development after 100 games in the NBA:
“More certainties, I know better where to place myself, particularly in attack. In defense, I know the habits of my opponents better. I gained a lot of experience from playing on them!” ???? pic.twitter.com/a9EIUhOcaS
— Robin Wolff (TrashTalk) (@robinwolff12) https://twitter.com/robinwolff12/status/1882026732724924860?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Victor Wembanyama on the media attention around him:
“I try to take advantage of the impact we can have on people to make it positive. To make this responsibility a gift.” pic.twitter.com/hysB8JQyKs
— Robin Wolff (TrashTalk) (@robinwolff12) https://twitter.com/robinwolff12/status/1882027382867165516?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Text source: Victor Wembanyama press conference (via Sport Buzz Business)
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