Eurosport (DR) / KEN5 (DR)
By Joël Pütz | Sports journalist
Author of a big Olympic campaign, Victor Wembanyama now finds his teammates in San Antonio. Asked about the Frenchman during the Texan Media Day, Devin Vassell also returned to his Olympic final lost against the United States.
Unanimous Rookie of the Year in 2023-24, Victor Wembanyama is inevitably expected around the corner this season in NBA. As crazy as it may seem, the pivot must do even better than his 21 points, 10 rebounds and 3.6 blocks on average last year. All in order to allow his Spurs franchise to reach a new milestone in the coming months, he who embodies the centerpiece of the squad.
Normally, one could say that the surprise effect would have passed concerning the Frenchman. but if other teams in the league continue to fear him, it’s because the guy is still only 20 years old and continues to improve. No one has yet really found a solution to counter him, his technical background and his athletic measurements making everyone hallucinate. Including his own teammates.
Asked about the Spurs superstar during Media Day, Devin Vassell did not mince his words:
It’s an Alien, it’s crazy. Some of the stuff he does is still crazy. Like, when I watch him practice right now, he’s making shots. You wouldn’t expect him to do what he does at that size. It seems normal now, but it’s still a little crazy.
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Devin Vassell admiring Wembanyama at the 2024 Olympics
As a good teammate, the guard also followed the Alien’s performances at JO from Paris this summer. If the latter experienced trauma by losing in the final against the United States, he impressed during this meeting by finishing with 26 points on the clock. Wemby’s attitude in the French capital has also greatly inspired Vassell, who can use it as an example in San Antonio for 2024-25:
To answer your question, you just have to watch him at the Olympic Games, see him grow and almost be the voice of this team, carrying it. In Team USAwe have LeBron, KD, we have all these players and he looked like he wouldn’t back down from anyone and that’s the mindset, the attitude we have to have this year. It doesn’t matter who we play, it doesn’t matter what arena we enter.
We don’t care who is in front of us, we come to win.
With Wembanyama back on track after the disappointment in Paris and a squad reinforced by the arrivals of Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes, there is indeed something to achieve a little more than the 22 victories acquired last year. All that’s left to do is…
Devin Vassell was impressed by Victor Wembanyama’s Olympic final, sparkling despite the Blues’ defeat. What to inspire the entire Texan squad this season? In any case, that’s what the pivot’s teammate seems to want.
