“Wembamania” continues to unleash passions, particularly in San Antonio, where the first Spurs “scrimmage” open to the public was held. The training match brought together more than 13,000 fans ! A large majority of them came to see the Victor Wembanyama phenomenon up close.
They were not disappointed with the trip since the Frenchman was able to shine and show off his versatility in attack, to score but also to pass. If he was the one who received the biggest ovation when he entered the court by the Spurs public, who finally had the opportunity to see him at work for the first time, the person concerned he remembered the good general atmosphere reigning around Gregg Popovich’s team.
“It warmed my heart that every time a player from our team entered the field, they almost received a standing ovation. It’s everything I expected, but it still feels good,” he confided after the session.
His basketball IQ at the service of the team
Author of 9 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists in 27 minutes for an anecdotal defeat of his team (74-65), he notably made an impression with his two caviars, a “no-look pass” for Zach Collins and a ball perfectly reversed to the opposite for a 3-pointer from Devonte ‘Graham.
“It’s simply a question of knowledge of the game. He’s natural in this area, it’s just his feeling. Especially seeing that he is so young in the NBA and that he can make these kinds of passes. And he’s a willing smuggler. That’s half the job done, when you have someone willing to make those passes. And he wants to do them. It’s fun to play with him.”, thus slipped Zach Collins.
For Victor Wembanyama, it is indeed a question of proving that he knows how to make the right readings of the game, but also of displaying his leadership by trying to involve everyone. He also only took 7 shots in 27 minutes, which did not prevent him from showing how useful he could be to his team.
“I think the best players are the ones who make their teammates better. So he’s someone I want to get closer to.”he confided about his connection with Zach Collins. “You can’t win by yourself alone.”
The versatility of the two interiors seems beneficial for the collective in which Zach Collins and Victor Wembanyama played. This bodes well for the future, as there are still 15 days before the start of the regular season to continue developing this collaboration.
“It’s a kind of poison for the opponent no matter what” Zach Collins continues. “So I hope that we will be able to continue to foster this cohesion. I believe we have all the qualities to do it, now it’s just a matter of knowing where the other player will be at each opportunity. I hope this pre-season will allow us to work on that and be ready for the opening match of the season.”
Sidy Cissoko, the “Warrior” of San Antonio
Victor Wembanyama also had a word for his compatriot Sidy Cissoko, who had already distinguished himself in the G-League with his toughness and his involvement in every second of the game. Having him at his side is obviously a big plus. “Wemby”, but also for the whole team.
“ Since we arrived, Sidy has taken on a “Warrior” role on the field. He gets rebounds, he makes mistakes when necessary, he sacrifices himself. I feel like he’s making the best choices to get there.” he stressed about his compatriot’s determination to find a place in Gregg Popovich’s rotation. “I have confidence in him and I think he can really help this team win.”
As in Summer League, Sidy Cissoko should be able to rely on the pre-season matches to continue his progress, and it starts tomorrow in OKC, for the first full-scale rehearsal.
