NBA – Victor Wembanyama, return six months later with the Spurs: “The only match where the coach will forgive me”

He needs time too. Because, ultimately, he too is human. For his first pre-season match with the San Antonio Spurs, Wednesday evening, in a room far from full, Victor Wembanyama did not really stand out during his team’s victory against Orlando (107-97). Clumsy, sometimes messy, the French international posted a score of 11 points (4/15 shooting). Not to mention 9 rebounds and 4 lost balls. Figures far from his standards, but rather logical when getting back on track after six months spent away from the NBA courts.

Aligned for the first time with Chris Paul in the starting five, he slowly gained strength by performing several counterattacks, to the great delight of the fans present. Before giving up his place shortly before the end of the third quarter, and with 23 minutes on the clock.

“I tried some things that worked, others didn’t.“, confided “Wemby” after the match, well aware of the margin for progress remaining before the official resumption of the season within a fortnight. Not really worried, still in training and spectacular when he could be. , the French international, silver medalist at the Paris 2024 Olympics, knows that time is his main ally And on Wednesday evening, he was also there to put on a show by trying sometimes improbable things. the legs of an opponent… which ended up failing. Basically, it was a pre-season match, right?

“This was probably the only match where the coach will forgive me for trying (laughs). It definitely took me a while tonight to get back in the saddle.“, he admitted lucidly.

To get the great “Wemby”, you will have to wait a little longer. No surprise. For his part, Sidy Cissoko, the other French player of the Spurs, finished his match with 5 points and 4 rebounds in 18 minutes.