Coach, teammates, fans but also opponents or the big boss of the league are all fans of the Frenchman who is playing his second match in Paris with the San Antonio Spurs, this Saturday, January 25 (6 p.m.).
“This guy is special, he's an exceptional player…” Despite the heavy defeat (140-110) the Canadian of the Indiana Pacers Bennedict Mathurin could only bow to the demonstration of Victor Wembanyama, Thursday evening in the corridors of Bercy. Same story for his coach, Rick Carlisle.“Victor is a great player and France can be proud of him. He manages to do breathtaking things”, he marveled after the match. Before the game, he had already expressed his admiration for Wemby. “He shows phenomenal maturity for a player his age, not to mention all his skills. If he's not the defensive player of the year this year, I'll be surprised,” Carlisle enthused. What a player! And it takes a unique preparation for him because he does so many unusual things for a 7-foot-11 guy.”
😱 WEMBANYAMA !!! 🤯 C'est n'importe quoi !!!#NBAParisGame #NBAextra pic.twitter.com/q5e2HEH0h4
— NBAextra (@NBAextra) January 23, 2025
A success that has even seduced Adam Silver, the big boss of the American League, who is not indifferent to the Frenchman's performances, as well as the markets and collaborations he can offer the NBA. “Victor has exceeded my expectations, first by his play on the court. He has demonstrated it, but also by his desire to engage with the fans”, savors the big boss of American basketball.
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000“Victor arrived at the right time for the NBA, which has implemented a development strategy throughout the world”, also notes Tania Ganguli, special correspondent for the New York Times in Paris.
“He makes our work more easy”
A great chess player, Wemby had participated in impromptu games in a New York park on the occasion of the Christmas match. “It's something he chose to do. The league has nothing to do with it, but I think he likes to engage with people. Within a few days of that, some 100 million people had seen him on social media. That's a testament to Victor's popularity. He's curious, very cultured, very open to the world. He's a unique person, who excels in basketball but is connected to so many other people, because of his many facets. He makes our job easier”, Adam Silver continues to enthuse. The third most followed player on social media (after Lebron James and Steph Curry), the Frenchman is also a strong marketing asset.
An admiration that resonates with fans of the Texan franchise, not a little proud to have the Frenchman in their ranks. “I traveled all the way from the United States just for him,says Travis, a Spurs fan who came from Texas to watch Thursday night's game. We're proud of him, proud to say we're from San Antonio. Being here is also an opportunity to see where he comes from, his culture.”
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… Dans la ville des lumières 🇫🇷 🔥
Les @Spurs repartent avec le Game 1, une perf' XXL de @Wemby (30 PTS, 11 REB, 6 AST, 5 BLK) pic.twitter.com/KKg2JuAOrn
— NBA France (@NBAFRANCE) January 24, 2025
It must be said that off the court, Wemby does not forget where he comes from. On Tuesday, he inaugurated basketball courts in Chesnay, his hometown. And participated in the training session with around fifty young people from disadvantaged neighborhoods, on Wednesday at Bercy.
On Thursday evening, he did not disappoint either on the field. Best player of the game, he led his teammates to a big win against Indiana. An important success for the rest of the Texans' season.
“I told Vic after the game that it was one of the best all-around games I'd seen him play since the start of the season,” said his partner, veteran Chris Paul (20 seasons in the NBA). With the expectations, being at home in front of family and friends, in front of you, some players can get lost in the game and start to overdo it. But he played a great game, on both sides of the court.” Wembamania hasn't finished raging…