He was obviously the most scrutinized. The most anticipated by the twenty or so journalists present this Monday, July 1, 2024 at the Kindarena. A global star since he was drafted in first position (2023) by the San Antonio Spurs, Victor Wembanyama has been tormenting the hoops of the Rouen stadium for several days from the height of his 2.24 m. Because it is here that the French team begins its preparation for the Paris Olympic Games. Before the first friendly match against Turkey, Wednesday, July 3, the center who played for Nanterre took stock.
You are starting your preparation here in Normandy. How have things been going since your arrival in Rouen?
“Good, good. The schedule is really optimized, it’s a lifestyle that I like. The fact of being in the same hotel, having meals ready when you arrive, being able to take a nap and then go to training in the evening, it’s nice. And different from the matches we play away, I like it.”
What do you expect from this first preparation match against Turkey on Wednesday July 3?
“I’m really looking forward to seeing the French team again, especially. There are a lot of things we want to test, both sportingly and tactically.”
“It’s something I’ve never seen before.”
You were able to play your first matches with Rudy Gobert (2.16 m) in the paint. What was it like?
“It’s something I’ve never seen before. There are still a lot of things that we’re testing, without rushing. We’re all really eager to play, to be there on Wednesday. We’re spending a lot of time thinking about it.”
Is the most work for both of you on offense or defense?
“I think we’ll have more responsibilities in defense but the biggest part of the work will be in attack. Rudy and I’s strength is having this ability to cover others. It’s a role that comes naturally so we’re trying to play on that but it’s especially in attack that we have to get to know each other.”
You often say that you want to do things differently. How do you want this French team to be different from all those we have known before?
“In terms of ambition, already. Even if it has often been a question of aiming at the top in the past, here, we are trying to make it happen today, and to have the requirements that meet this ambition. It also involves a team profile that we have not seen previously, which is very much based on the interior game, particularly in attack, which may differ from what we have seen with the French teams in the past.”
Today’s basketball tends to go more towards the three-point shot, all for the attack, and we have the impression that this French team is taking a bit of the opposite approach to all that…
“It’s a bias. I think the only way to reach our full potential is to use all our weapons and make strong choices like that.”
Also read Basketball. After the United States and San Antonio, Rouen is getting ready to discover “Wemba mania”
“To have the chance to participate in the Games is something so huge…”
Now that it’s becoming concrete, preparing for the Olympic Games in France, what does that mean to you?
“Before it really becomes concrete, it’s always complicated to imagine the thing. The preparation that I’m doing here reminds me of the ones I did when I was young, but personally, I don’t yet realize what’s at the end of it, so it’s going to be a really enriching experience.”
Are the Olympics a career goal?
“It’s a life goal, I would say. Having the chance to participate in the Games is something so huge…”
Also read VIDEO. Basketball: the French team begins its preparation for the Games in Rouen!
Are these matches in the provinces important to you?
“Now that I’m in the United States, it’s important for me to come back to France and be there for those who allow me to do this job. It’s one of the things I’m looking forward to the most, this morning there were kids at our training, I think they enjoyed it, it’s really nice. Beyond the field, my desire is to also be there for the fans in France.”
We learned last night that Chris Paul (point guard, 39 years old) was going to join you at the Spurs. How does that make you feel?
“I woke up with this news, it’s obviously very nice, I think it will bring us a lot of stability. I was waiting for it a little, I’m happy that it’s almost concrete.”
France – Türkiye Wednesday July 3, 2024 at 9 p.m. at the Kindarena in Rouen
2024-07-03 00:44:50
#Basketball #Victor #Wembanyama #Rudy #Gobert #attack
