Victor Wembanyama doesn’t like to lose, even an exhibition match, but he is a well-bred boy. So after the defeat of his team (41-36), Team Gasol, against a group of G-League players at the opening of the All-Star weekend in Indianapolis, he contained his frustration behind a smile. “No, it doesn’t detract from my weekend experience. Let’s say that I try to remain professional until the end and do my job but the truth is that I am in a hurry for it to be over,” explained the Frenchman, in demand as much, if not more, than an All- Star, since his arrival in Indiana.
He did everything, it’s true (11 points at 5/6, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 interception and two blocks in 11 minutes), to help his friend Bilal Coulibaly, “Baïlalle” as the announcer called him. from a quiet Gainbridge Fieldhouse, to reach the final of the Rising Stars Challenge, a mini-tournament bringing together rookies, sophomores (second years) and the best basketball players from the NBA development league.
Team Detlef didn’t want to laugh
In an orange jersey evoking that of Cleveland, the Texas giant scored the first basket of the match and disgusted with his defense the players coached by former Pacer Detlef Schrempf on the following action. He offered an alley-oop to Jaime Jaquez, the Miami rookie.
Everything was going pretty well but Team Gasol (Brandon Miller from Charlotte, Brandin Podziemski from Golden State), perhaps waited a little too long to take the match seriously. Even Wemby indulged in fantasy by attempting a dribble between his opponent’s legs.
Except that opposite, less strong on paper, Mac McLung (12 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists), winner of the dunk competition last year, and his teammates did not want to laugh. Diligent, aggressive, dominant on the rebound (21 against 14), they quickly took the lead knowing that the first team to 40 points wins the match in this format.
There is talent in the G-League too
A little panic gripped the room, at the idea that the number one from the last draft would miss the final meeting against Chet Holmgren, his rival for the title of rookie of the year. Team Gasol has increased its intensity. Coulibaly dunked. Wembanyama, skillful, waited for his defender to score and get the foul, bringing his team to 28-29. But there is talent in the G-League too. Matas Buzelis, the Ignite winger, scored from distance and delivered a nice pass to Tyler Smith before Alondes Williams, trapped in the corner, managed to shoot over Wembanyama’s outstretched arms to score a long-range shot .
At 39-32, Team Gasol managed to save two match points, notably thanks to a counter from Spur, who really only had their five ball losses to blame. But a fadeaway from Buzelis, again, officially shortened his evening.
He can’t even console himself by saying that he lost against the winner of the tournament since Team Detlef was slammed straight away (26-13) by the team of Jalen Rose and local Bennedict Mathurin, named MVP .
