Paris – If the NBA wanted to offer the French the true experience of the Fandom, the match on Saturday fully accomplished this mission.
After San Antonio beat Indiana by 30 Thursday during the opening match, the roles were reversed on Saturday while the The Pacers beat the Spurs 136-98.
In many ways, this is the most authentic NBA experience that we can hope. What could be more real than flows and reflux, ups and downs and, frankly, variable performance?
While the Parisians would have obviously loved to see the Spurs dominate once again with the local hero Victor Wembanyama drop 30 other bombs, it is simply not a realistic representation of the situation of the second year star in his career.
The fact that the Spurs have experienced high and low -crazy stockings is strangely a large federator for their growing fans base in France. In addition, after the conclusion of the match on Saturday, Wembanyama highlighted what it was really.
“This week was incredible,” said Wembanyama in his opening speech at the post-match press conference before answering questions. “I just saw my family. I’m not trying to become emotional, but everyone has done their job to make this week incredible.
Wembanyama failed in his quest so as not to be emotional with his eyes becoming red and his slightly cracked voice.
“I did my best to make this team this team for my team, for my family, my friends,” he said. “But people still found ways to surprise me, to give the impression that things were counting for them, and that I count for them. So that is priceless. »»
His deep appreciation for the constant outcome of love of his nation betrayed his attempt to keep his face stoned – and we all get better.
The 21 -year -old was busy this week with everything. He took his dinner teamUnveiled basketball courts, attended numerous press conferences, has appeared at the NBA events and, Oh, he played two regular season games as a star player bearing the burden of a nation with more than 68 million inhabitants on its thin back.
That this young man does not show fatigue and exhaustion at a press conference after his flash week and his 38 -point defeat is exactly what the superstars are done.
Like this series of two games, Wembanyama’s career will likely be a reflection. There will be unimaginable peaks, devastating valleys and common ground in which he will have to find a certain level of comfort just to survive the daily train that is the NBA.
As for his game, he left Paris with an average of 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, four assists and three counters. For 99.9 % of NBA players, that’s enough. For Wembanyama, there is undoubtedly the feeling of not having done enough, mainly due to the fact that its potential is unlimited.
This passion for the game? This desire to do more more? This burning feeling of defeat that fills his inner being of more motivation?
He couldn’t be more French, even if he was trying.
Victor Wembanyama is the future of the NBA. And all he showed in Paris is why.
