All of a sudden, the many teenagers, selected by the All Parisians Games association and Nike, present in the stands of the Nanterre sports center, their eyes rise, they shine and they start screaming. A little louder still. It is exactly 2:55 p.m. and Victor Wembanyama finally makes his last entrance into a basketball hall that he knows so well. Where it all began for the French basketball prodigy.
It was he who asked that the first training session of the San Antonio Spurs in France – before the two event matches against the Indiana Pacers on Thursday 23 and Saturday 25 at the Accor Arena – be held in the den of Nanterre 92, club whose colors he wore between 2014 and 2021.
“He has often claimed that he comes from Nanterre and as soon as he has the opportunity he comes here,” appreciates Raphaël Adam, the mayor of Nanterre who was able to attend the session. He came to two games here last season. We are very proud to see him here with his team. He shows his true commitment to be with us. »
Originally, and as has been tradition since the first edition of the NBA Paris Games in 2020, the two franchises carried out their training in the Marcel-Cerdan sports center in Levallois. But at the start of last week, Frédéric Donnadieu, president of Nanterre 92, received a phone call from Spurs to find out if their room would be available for the first session in France. A gift for the club and the city which, in a minimum of time, did everything possible to make the operation possible.
“It’s huge, there is pride for the whole club, for all the educators who have supported it during all these years here, it makes sense,” appreciates Fred Donnadieu. It was important for him to train here.” 24 young people aged 11 to 14 from Nanterre were also invited by the NBA to participate in training on Wednesday morning at the Accor Arena. 24 places have also been reserved for Thursday’s match. “It’s a pleasure to see him here, in this room where he has worked so hard and where everyone has seen him grow,” confides Philippe Da Silva, the Nanterre coach. These are beautiful images. » The coach attended training with part of his staff and a few players.
-Leaving Miami where they faced the Heat on Sunday evening, the Spurs arrived in France on Monday around 1:20 p.m. They headed directly towards Nanterre accompanied by the police, without even passing through their hotel. At the sports hall, the arrival of the number 1 of the Spurs in Nanterre having not been rumored, no supporters were to be reported in the surrounding area. On the other hand, around thirty journalists are present for the first dribbles in France of number 1 of the 2023 NBA draft.
The break down session consisted of stretching, a few shooting sessions and a midfield shooting competition. An exercise in which Wemby, who knows the places by heart, shone. Good humor reigns. The players joke with each other. Barely an hour after their arrival, the Spurs left the venue to the cheers of teenagers.
“It’s incredible, unique to experience such a moment, I don’t have the words,” smiles Haissam, 20 years old. Two years ago, the young Parisian had already been selected by the All Parisians Games association for the visit of the Chicago Bulls and his idol Zach LaVine had signed a jersey for him. This, the “titi” of the 20th arrondissement leaves with a Wembanyama jersey signed by the person concerned and a ball autographed by Wemby, Chris Paul and Julian Champagnie. “I’m going to frame the jersey and put the ball on a shelf in my room,” relishes Haissam. I won’t sell them. I keep everything, it’s a question of principle. »
Before leaving, Wemby took the time to exchange a few words with Fred Donnadieu and to greet old familiar faces. His reunion with France is only just beginning.
