Just over two weeks after being selected first overall in the NBA draft by the San Antonio Spurs, French phenom Victor Wenbanyama made his professional debut in the summer league on Friday night.
The one that many perceive as the best hope to enter the NBA since LeBron James had a first evening altogether discreet in the uniform of the Spurs, while his club was opposed to the Charlotte Hornets.
Used for 27 minutes, the 7-foot-5 giant struggled on shot, missing 11 of 13 attempts, including five of six three-point shots.
Four of the nine points of Wemby in this first game were obtained from the free throw line – he was perfect in this phase of the game.
After missing his first four shots from long distance, he gave himself some confidence when he saw his sixth from behind the arc entering the basket late in the game.
“It’s a win, so that’s good for that. [les Spurs l’ont emporté 76-68]. There is still room for me to acclimatize. I’m going to be better from match to match,” he promised in a post-match interview with ESPN.
If the offensive phase of the new jewel of San Antonio was not the most brilliant against the Hornets, his defensive efficiency left no doubt.
Thus, Wembanyama totaled eight defensive rebounds, in addition to achieving no less than five blocks.
On the side of the Hornets, the second overall pick of the NBA auction, Brandon Miller, had a more complete first performance than Wembanyama, amassing 16 points, 11 rebounds and three steals in 31 minutes of play.
Spurs opted to insert the 19-year-old Frenchman into the roster despite a scene involving singer Britney Spears and a Wembanyama bodyguard causing a lot of distractions over the past 24 hours.
The next opportunity for Wenbyanama to gain experience will be Sunday night at 8 p.m. on the Portland Trail Blazers floor.
2023-07-08 05:01:04
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