Events continue to unfold at a steady pace for Victor Wembanyama. After his full season in Betclic Elite which ended in the playoff final, his arrival in the United States, the Draft and the “Wembamania” which has since followed, the new Spurs pivot will now have to focus on the Summer League which will happen very quickly, while he could participate in his first match under his new colors in less than a week, next Friday against the Hornets of Brandon Miller.
A kind of return to the sources which is not to displease him after having had to assume a lot of media solicitations lately. “Since coming to the United States I’ve spent more time with the media than on the pitch, I’m not going to lie. But I’m glad things have calmed down a bit. Unfortunately, I had a lot to do off the court, but I’m happy it’s over and I can focus 100% on basketball.”he confided.
Wembanyama stays in San Antonio for training
Training has therefore resumed for Wemby, his new teammates and the Spurs staff who are doing their utmost to ensure that the team and its main jewel are ready on D-Day. As expected, he will not accompany his teammates to Sacramento , but he will find them on July 6 in Las Vegas, the day before the first game against the Hornets.
“It’s clear he’s had a lot to do in the last two weeks, from the final in France and everything after that. The plan is for him not to come with us to Sacramento, but to be ready for Vegas. When we leave for Sacramento, he will stay here to train”, confirmed assistant Matt Nielsenpromoted to head coach of the San Antonio Summer League team, and who therefore has the privilege of being able to work first with Victor Wembanyama. “He’s a fantastic basketball player. He can do many things. It is very versatile. I think that’s the most exciting part. He has a lot to learn about NBA basketball, about how Spurs do. There’s a lot going on for him, and it’s exciting to see him on the pitch.”
Already under the eyes of Gregg Popovich
For the time being, it is still only a question of training, integration with his new teammates and the staff, as well as benchmarks to assimilate. The first notions on the first group training sessions concerned the defensive phases against the pick-and-roll. For the rest, there are still a lot of unknowns, especially about his playing time in the Summer League.
“I don’t know how it’s going to be yet, how many minutes I’m going to play in Las Vegas. But I know that I will have an important role, that it will be intense. I can’t wait to wear the Spurs shirt for the first time.”he added. “I was told in advance that there was a good dynamic within the team, on and off the pitch, and I have already started to feel it. This reinforces my idea that it is a good environment”.
Victor Wembanyama also had a word on his first exchanges with Gregg Popovich, the one who has made the Spurs legend for almost 30 years and who is also present to witness the Frenchman’s first steps and accompany him on his first training sessions. For the moment, he has not yet drawn the wrath of his future coach.
“He communicates a lot with me and he doesn’t want me to make mistakes. It is very present and it is very comfortable. I thought I would have heard her screams a little earlier, but I haven’t yet. I’m ready for this”he concluded.
