It’s an emotional return for Victor Wembanyama. Arriving with his teammates from San Antonio in Nanterre, the place where he made his debut, the French prodigy savors these “surreal” moments. But he remains focused on his performances…
This is a special moment that Victor Wembanyama is currently experiencing. The young French basketball prodigy, who arrived in Paris this Monday with his NBA team San Antonio Spurs, is once again stepping onto the floor of Nanterre, where it all began for him just a few years ago. A meeting between two worlds which arouses a lot of emotion in the 19-year-old player.
A reunion full of emotions
Back in the Maurice Thorez room in Nanterre, Victor Wembanyama does not hide his emotion. “It’s a bit surreal,” he says. “Like two universes that meet”. He who spent so much time training on this floor not so long ago is now there with his NBA teammates. An improbable meeting between his past and his present which gives him “a lot of excitement”.
But these reunions are not limited to the place. Wembanyama also relishes “seeing familiar faces again, from the club or even from the city”. People who marked his journey in Nanterre and helped make him the phenomenon he became. A return to basics in a way, which “really pleases” the main person concerned.
The NBA in Paris thanks to Wembanyama
If the NBA chose Paris and the AccorHotels Arena to host two Spurs exhibition matches this season, Victor Wembanyama is no stranger to it. A choice seen as “a pride” but also “a responsibility” by the Frenchman, who wants to take advantage of it to “give back to the French public”.
It’s really important for me (…) to please a lot of people who will never have the opportunity to go to the United States.
Victor Wembanyama
The event is in any case historic, the Spurs being the first NBA team to play matches in France. A unique opportunity that “Wembamania” largely contributed to making real.
Performance objective despite distractions
Despite the particular context and the emotional dimension of this return to Nanterre, Victor Wembanyama keeps his feet on the ground and a cool head. His priority remains “performance” during the two matches against a team to be determined.
Aware of the potential distractions linked to this event, with the presence of his family and friends in particular, the Frenchman assures that he will make sure to “ keep [sa] pre-match routine » and not seeing anyone on the big day. A necessary discipline to approach these meetings in the best conditions.
-An “organic” relationship with Chris Paul
Beyond the personal and emotional aspect, Victor Wembanyama also returned to his express integration into Spurs. The Frenchman notably spoke of his relationship with veteran Chris Paul, who arrived this summer in San Antonio. A link that he describes as “very natural”.
It is certain that he has a bit of a mentoring role (…) but that is not the case here, it is very natural, nothing forced.
Victor Wembanyama on Chris Paul
A healthy and spontaneous relationship between the two men, which bodes well for the season to come. Especially since CP3 is not stingy with relevant advice according to his young teammate.
Wembanyama’s progress since the Olympics
Finally, Wembanyama looked back on his progress since the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021, where he made his debut with the France team. A frustrating Olympics on a collective level with elimination in the final, but enriching on a personal level for the youngster inside.
From, Wembanyama believes he has progressed “in a little bit of everything”from his knowledge of himself to that of his teammates. Progress which is reflected in his statistics but also in the game of Spurs, which “is getting closer and closer to the recipe for winning” according to him, thanks in particular to the contributions of Barnes and Paul.
Focused on the goal despite the environment
Despite a necessarily particular context for these Parisian matches, with a crowd committed to his cause, Victor Wembanyama does not want to disperse. His leitmotif: stay focused on the game and the fundamentals. “ You must not go home with this state of mind. » to want to shine at all costs, he insists.
An already mature and professional state of mind for this early phenomenon. There is no doubt that all of France will still have their eyes glued to his performances, for this very special reunion between the child prodigy and the cradle of his beginnings. Looking forward to Thursday and Saturday!
