If he failed to keep it last summer after Asvel’s title of French champion, Tony Parker must always have an eye on Victor Wembanyama. The draft of the new phenomenon will inevitably bring their respective destinies closer together since “Wemby” has arrived in San Antonio, the franchise where TP has built its destiny.
Asked about this new adventure which presents itself in front of the number 1 of the last Draft, Tony Parker confides that he took pleasure in witnessing the first steps of Victor Wembanyama in his new environment.
“I’m really happy for him, because I knew he wanted to come to Spurs. I have known him now for four, five years. He was in the sights of my team in France, he played for my team, we won a title together. His big sister went through my academy, his little brother Oscar is still there. So I’ve known the family for a while.” did he declare. “When I got to San Antonio, we had lunch together the next day. It was nice to find him, with his father and his agent, whom I know very well (…). We spent the day just talking about San Antonio. He was very happy to meet Tim Duncan, David Robinson and Manu Ginobili with whom he had a great dinner. I’m just happy for him. This is where he wanted to be.”
Tony Parker also returned to the famous photo posted by Victor Wembanyama on social networks, on which he wears, still a child, the jersey of Tony Parker with the Spurs.
“When Spurs got the first pick he posted this photo with my shirt. And when he played in my team at Asvel, he never showed me this photo! The first time I saw it was when he posted it on social media. It was pretty cool. I guess it was his destiny to get drafted by the Spurs.”
“I just really hope people are going to be patient”
Like Adam Silver, Tony Parker has finally returned to the extraordinary expectations and media pressure hanging over the 19-year-old interior. Unlike TP, who arrived in the United States anonymously and was able to benefit from a surprise effect, Victor Wembanyama will evolve every evening with a target behind his back.
The challenge is immense, but TP believes that his former protege is up to it.
“There are a lot of expectations, and sometimes that worries me. I’ve been following him for a long time, he’s going to have an incredible career. I also know that he has high expectations of himself. I just find that sometimes expectations are unrealistic. But he will clearly change the game. We have never seen that before, a player of his size, with all his qualities. I just really hope people are going to be patient, because it’s going to be a while before he dominates the NBA and brings us a title.”
The good news is that he will be able to count on the contribution of Gregg Popovich to advance and protect him, the legendary Spurs coach having extended for five more seasons.
