At the Basketball World Cup in August and September, the French national team will have to do without top talent Victor Wembanyama. The 2023 draft No. 1 pick wants to focus on preparing for his rookie season in the NBA.
Enthusiastically received by the Spurs fans: top talent Victor Wembanyama. IMAGO/USA TODAY Network
According to a report in the sports newspaper “L’Équipe”, exceptional talent Victor Wembanyama does not want to play for France at the upcoming Basketball World Cup. The newspaper referred to a conversation with the 19-year-old in Texas on Monday. Wembanyama found the decision difficult, but it was “irrevocable”. The World Cup will take place from August 25th to September 10th in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia.
Wembanyama is said to have emphasized that it was his decision and that his future employer, the San Antonio Spurs, gave him the choice. According to the report, he should have consulted with his closest environment, doctors and his trainer before making his decision.
Wembanyama: World Cup waiver “a necessary sacrifice”
In the coming months before the start of his first NBA season in October, the focus for him will be on his personal development and health, Wembanyama clarified. But he also announced that he wanted to win as many titles as possible with the national team. “But I think it’s a necessary sacrifice,” he said of the World Cup waiver. “I hope the fans will understand that.”
The big man only made his debut for the national team last November, and since then he has averaged 19 points and 8.3 rebounds per game in four games for France. In the league last season he played for the Parisian team Metropolitans 92, for whom he played all games and recorded 21.6 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 3.0 blocks per game. He led the league in points, rebounds and blocks, and was named league MVP.
Dinner with Spurs legends Duncan, Ginobili and Co.
Now follows the leap across the pond into the best basketball league in the world. Wembanyama is considered the greatest talent since LeBron James, who came to the NBA in 2003. As expected, the Spurs chose the Frenchman, who was christened “Alien” because of his unique style of play, first in last week’s NBA draft.
He already feels very comfortable in San Antonio, he said shortly after his arrival on Saturday – and after a dinner with Spurs legends Tim Duncan, David Robinson, Manu Ginobili and Sean Elliott, among others. “In the few hours I’ve probably learned more about the NBA than in my entire life,” said Wembanyama and on Twitter he wrote under a joint photo: “I couldn’t imagine better role models.” He is expected to appear in a Spurs jersey for the first time in the Summer League in July, in which the talents of the 30 teams can prove themselves.
2023-06-26 08:26:12
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