Victor Wembanyama bickered nicely with Russell Westbrook, scared the young Christian Braun (23) who preferred to move away from the basket, and made the majority of Denver players look like juniors. But there was even better, last night during the surprise victory of the San Antonio Spurs at the Denver Nuggets (110-113): Wemby held the prize high, and even more than that, to Nikola Jokic, considered the current best player in the world.
The Frenchman scored 35 points and grabbed 18 rebounds (in 33 minutes), almost as good as the Serbian, named MVP three times in the last four seasons (41 points, 18 rebounds, 9 assists in 36 minutes). Above all, he was able to respond to the physical challenge and the cunning of his opponent, until the very last action of the match, and a perfect defense which was able to preserve the victory for his team.
So much so that the question arises: is this Alien from France that is being announced as the future of this game already the present? Can Victor Wembanyama already be cited in the race for the MVP title, and be considered the potential best basketball player on the planet? His first 100 NBA games show an upward curve. After an impressive December, Wemby continues to push the boundaries. “In my opinion, he is the best player in the NBA, and in any case the best defender,” says his teammate Keldon Johnson.
“It’s a pretty crazy season for him,” admits another of his partners, Devin Vassell. This is only its second year. And all this stuff he does… Even the opposing audience, at one point, went crazy. He does these things that we’re not used to seeing. Last year, we tried to understand Victor’s favorite positions to score. And we’re starting to realize that it’s almost everywhere! »
“Jokic?” This is 100% what I want to be”
The duel between Jokic and Wembanyama, these two Europeans who frightened the entire NBA, began with a jump ball which each won: first Jokic, who had jumped too early, then Wemby on the occasion of the new shot. sending. From the start, the two players looked each other straight in the eye. “I like to face him,” Victor Wembanyama said after the match about his opponent. He’s an MVP, and maybe he will be again soon. I couldn’t ask for better ways to progress and learn. Jokic is one of those who, despite always having several defenders on his back, still manages to make his partners better. This is 100% what I want to be. »
The match? Victor Wembanyama commits his first foul after 30 seconds of play, but he does not wait three minutes to counter Jokic and mark his territory. During the second quarter, he exerted his deterrent power against Christian Braun: the Nuggets back found himself in a good position very close to the basket, but between the basket and him, there was Wemby. Braun prefers to dodge and pass to the outside.
Victor Wembanyama finished the first half as leader: while he was already in a double-double since… the start of the 2nd quarter, he scored two three-point baskets in a row. Then he politely argues with Russell Westbrook after a foul by the American. The pleasant exchange ends with mutual little slaps on the head.
Decisive on the last action of the match
The third quarter suggests that the Nuggets have found the solution against the Frenchman. They attack him as soon as they can and sometimes make him lose his means, at least many balls: 8 ball losses over the entire match for Victor Wembanyama. Wemby also found himself in difficulty, with 5 faults while the last act had barely begun.
But since the French pivot is tall, his fourth quarter will be a model of its kind: he scores two consecutive three-point baskets, once again, then he thwarts Jokic’s vice by narrowly removing his arm that was trying to touch the Serb, for what would have been a sixth fault and therefore an exclusion. In the final moments, he fakes the shot and serves Keldon Johnson perfectly.
Then, ten seconds from the end, and while he has no right to blame, it is obviously up to him to prevent Nikola Jokic from scoring. A nervous clinch but won by the Frenchman. “At this moment of the match, there is no real game plan, you just have to prevent him from scoring,” says the Frenchman. The basket is missed and the Spurs win, continuing their journey towards qualification for the final stages.
“It’s a match that should serve as a benchmark for us to build up confidence and know that we are capable of achieving this kind of performance,” said coach Mitch Johnson. It’s a great opportunity to grow for our group. Victor stood out but everyone had a great match. » Devin Vassell scored 18 points, Chris Paul delivered 11 assists, and replacements Julian Champagnie (15) and Keldon Johnson (16) did a hell of a job. But it was Victor Wembanyama, with his 66% success rate, his 4/6 from three points, and his valuable defense who once again dominated overall.
