From the shadow to the light. From a calm summer to American madness, “Wembamania” started again last week. Monday, “media day”, Victor Wembanyama experienced an intense return to school. As soon as he appeared in the now former Spurs training center, “Wemby” immediately monopolized the attention of the hundred journalists present, a record for the Texan franchise.
The former interior of the Metropolitans 92, with a sure step and a smile on his lips, first multiplied the photo shoots with Jeremy Sochan, Devin Vassell & Co’ before responding to the press with a fluidity and ease that is still disconcerting.
“ I’m in the best shape of my life “, proclaimed Victor Wembanyama, who gained between 4 and 7 kg this summer thanks to an intense summer of preparation with individual coach Melvin Sanders in Dallas. Before continuing: “I want to learn to win as quickly as possible. I’m super excited to be able to discover all these things I saw on TV, the rooms, the different atmospheres. This is a year that is really going to be very special for me. »
Gregg Popovich already tired of “Wembamania”
Questions surrounding “Wemby” arose throughout the morning. Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell and Zach Collins all took the time to respond. But Gregg Popovichrecently inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame, wasn’t necessarily in the mood.
When will he be exasperated by the questions surrounding the number 1 of the Draft? ” I already am “, he replies dryly, a bit grumpy. How many matches will he play? ” I don’t know “, sweeps away the 74-year-old coach. A way, in a way, to slow down the “Wembamania” which has invaded San Antonio since the Draft.
After about twenty minutes of press conference, Wemby continued with an interview for NBA TV and another for the players’ association. An hour later, Victor Wembanyama – followed closely by a host of journalists, photographers and cameramen – returned to the locker room under the high protection of Jordan Howenstine, the Spurs press officer dedicated to Victor Wembanyama.
For Wembanyama, the discovery of the new training center
The next day, the former Nanterre 92 player took up residence in the brand new Victory Capital Performance Center, located in the northwest of San Antonio, about twenty minutes from the city center. A little gem that would make most EuroLeague teams green with envy.
” It’s incredible “, he marvels with his 19-year-old eyes. “Last year, I wasn’t just a player, I was also the GM. I had to take care of a lot of things off the field whereas today, I am more liberated and rested. » Still under construction, the brand new Spurs training center, called “ The Rock at La Cantera », should be completed by the end of next year. If the parking lot and the adjoining restaurant are still under construction, the training room, with two courts overlooked by the franchise’s five NBA champion banners, was ready to welcome its new tenants at the beginning of last week.
During the press briefings, there was no shortage of superlatives. All the players questioned about the French phenomenon were rave. But the most beautiful tribute, fair and measured, is from Doug McDermott, the 31-year-old Spurs winger: “He’s incredible to watch. He is capable of doing actions that I can’t even explain. The fans will be very surprised. He is so coordinated despite his size. At one point, I was thinking of scoring an easy basket and saw a hand come out of nowhere to block me. He is team-oriented: if he sees someone standing out, he will serve them. He has an excellent vision of the game.”
The San Antonio Express-Newsthe local newspaper, perfectly summed up the thoughts of the former student of the Creighton Bluejays on the front page of its Sports supplement, Thursday morning: “Victor Wembanyama wasted no time in turning heads. »
Fans camped outside the venue!
If he tasted the demands of Coach Pop “a little later than expected”Victor Wembanyama was also able to enjoy a new session with James Leija, a famous boxer from San Antonio. Also present throughout the week were Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and David Robinson, still San Antonio residents.
Dubbed by his team, adored by the fans, Victor Wembanyama is already the little prince of Texas. Make no mistake, Wembamania has not run out of steam in the heart of summer. On the contrary, even. And it should continue to build crescendo until the season kicks off at home against Dallas on October 26. To the rhythm of “Go Spurs Go” and sometimes to the tune of “We are the champion” by Queen, several thousand fans gathered around the arena for the scrimmage on Saturday. Some even camped as early as midnight, sixteen hours before the gates opened, to get the best possible spots.
“Victor gives a future to the city”
The last player to come out of the tunnel, the former Metropolitans 92 power forward was welcomed like a rock star for his first steps at the Frost Bank Center, three months after his two Summer League matches in Las Vegas. All eyes immediately turned to the entrance of the players when Roland Ruiz, the Spurs announcer, shouted loudly to pronounce the name of the new Texan star.
The decibels suddenly rose when Wemby gradually emerged from the darkness. “ It really warmed my heart to see that every time a player from our team entered the field, he almost received a standing ovation. It was everything I expected, but it still feels good”explains the 2.22 m giant after the scrimmage, (74-65 defeat) in front of more than 13,200 people. “Receiving such a welcome is even more valuable when it comes from the fan base of the franchise that I have been following since I was little. »
Victor Wembanyama, teammate of Sidy Cissoko and especially Zach Collins, that evening offered a small glimpse of his talent, with his nine points and five rebounds. Two supporters dressed as aliens animated a good part of the meeting.
“ Victor gives a future to the city and the opportunity for the franchise to grow from this season”explains one of them with a Spurs “fiesta” jersey on his shoulders. “We really need him because for the last three years, we were in the shadow of the League. We’re not asking that much, just to make the playoffs again fairly quickly. In the immediate future, its development is more important than the results. »
From our correspondent in San Antonio.
