SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Victor Wembanyama’s first dinner party in his new town was packed with San Antonio royalty. Gregg Popovich was present. They were also Tim Duncan, David Robinson, the Argentine Manu Ginóbili and Sean Elliott.
All of them NBA champions.
Wembanyama now begins the search to join that club.
Even with the Wemby welcomes that continued Saturday, one at the iconic downtown site on River Walk where San Antonio celebrates its championships, and another at the arena, the young Frenchman who has been hailed as a generational talent is already thinking about what to expect. Whats Next. He is scheduled to visit Nike’s Oregon headquarters in the coming days, appointments to see some houses he may soon call home for years to come, and training for the NBA Summer League.
“I have a lot to do,” Wembanyama said. “But it’s okay. It’s ok. I’m going to fit in well.”
He’s excited, and rightly so. He donned a Spurs uniform Saturday for the first time and will play in one for the first time in early July, either in Sacramento or Las Vegas; San Antonio plays at both sites. He high-fived hundreds of Spurs employees who turned up at the arena on Saturday to welcome him, smiling all the while.
“These are exciting times,” said Spurs general manager RC Buford.
Great expectations come. The morning party at River Walk was held at a site where the Spurs celebrate their championships. At the subsequent news conference in the arena, Wembanyama sat on the side where San Antonio’s five NBA championship banners are displayed.
“To Victor, I wanted to say directly, we’re excited to grow with you, support you, challenge you, especially Coach Pop, there are going to be many challenging days, on your journey through life and basketball.” Spurs general manager Brian Wright said as he sat to Wembanyama’s left. “Your talent is obvious, but as we got to know you, the maturity, the focus, the character really showed us how special you are as a young man.”
It was part of a whirlwind first 20 hours in San Antonio for Wembanyama, who flew out of the NBA Draft on Friday and dined with Popovich and some former players that night.
“Honestly, that was one of the best dinners of my life,” Wembanyama said. And I’m not talking about the food. The food was delicious, but the company was crazy.”
Saturday started with a bag of the city’s famous breakfast tacos (bacon and egg, beans and cheese, he said) before heading to the Arneson River Theater for the first unveiling event. Robinson was present in the front row. Also the mayor of San Antonio, Ron Nirenberg, wearing the Wembanyama jersey.
It was hectic. It’s going to be hectic for a while. And Wembanyama says that she is thoroughly enjoying it.
“This is the life I wanted,” Wembanyama said. “This is what I worked for and it is what I have been waiting for a long time. So it seems normal to me.”
2023-06-24 17:46:23
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