“It was hard, I was champing at the bit for a long time. » A month since Victor Wembanyama, injured in his left calf, has been following the NBA – the major North American basketball league –, ” Since [son] couch “. Certainly, this allowed him to notice “patterns and habits” among his San Antonio Spurs teammates, to whom he had not paid attention until then, as he told the American sports media ESPN. And he was also delighted to see them surpass themselves… But twelve matches away from the courts, it’s not easy to live with for a competitor of his caliber – who, what’s more, has already seen his last season cut short due to a deep vein thrombosis in the shoulder.
“But it’s over”rejoiced the 21-year-old Frenchman, at a press conference, on the eve of his big return, Saturday December 13 (Sunday December 14 at 3 a.m., Paris time), for the semi-final of the NBA Cup, against the Oklahoma City (OKC) Thunder. And he couldn’t help but add that he did ” trust “ to the medical team of his franchise, renowned for its prudence, but that it would be “returned earlier” if the decision had been solely in his hands.
As a wink, it is in Las Vegas, Nevada, that Wemby is making its comeback. There where, still a player of the Metropolitans 92 and the object of all covetousness in the United States, he played two exhibition matches in October 2022. There again where he had highlighted his status as first choice in the draft – this sort of scholarship for talents wishing to join the NBA – during the 2023 Summer League.
Limited playing time
The duel that awaits him this Saturday is on a completely different level against a formidable opponent: reigning NBA champion, undefeated for 16 games and at the head of a record record since the start of the season (24 wins, 1 loss). And on a decisive encounter to boot. Nothing to worry about Victor Wembanyama though: “I have no experience in playoff games [dans la ligue nord-américaine]but I am a competitor and I know that I surpass myself in big events. »
Before his season was interrupted, the Frenchman posted impressive statistics, with 12.9 rebounds and 3.6 blocks on average per game, the best record of the current year. But Mitch Johnson, the Spurs coach, has already made it known that his nugget’s playing time will be limited on Saturday. “We want players with a competitive spirit who are hungry for matches, but it’s also our job, at the medical level, in the organization of the staff, to play bad guys”if circumstances require it, explained Gregg Popovich’s successor.
Currently fifth in the Western Conference, with 17 wins and 7 losses, the Spurs have “exceeded expectations”estimated leader De’Aaron Fox. And the latter added that if the Texans have “managed to play well” in the absence of Wemby, his return will certainly help them “bring offensively and defensively”. In any case, they can reassure themselves about his state of mind, which is absolutely unchanged: “I can’t wait and nothing makes me happier than winning.” »
In the event of success against OKC on Saturday, San Antonio will play the final on Tuesday against the New York Knicks or the Orlando Magic, opposed in the other semi-finals.
