NBA top pick Victor Wembanyama has 27 points, 12 rebounds in second game for San Antonio Spurs

Las Vegas – Victor Wembanyama, the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) top draft pick, showed improvement on Sunday in his second game with the San Antonio Spurs, scoring 27 points in an 85-80 Summer League loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.

The 2.23m French centre has been hyped as the best prospect since LeBron James 20 years ago, but the 19-year-old had received a wake-up call in his first game against NBA talent.

This time, though, Wembanyama grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds, blocked three shots and made a steal in just under 27 minutes on the court.

“It’s just me getting comfortable with myself and my body,” he said. “Before today, I had two practices and one game. I was just getting going. It’s normal to get better every game. I had so much stuff going on with the draft and the game, so it makes sense.”

He sank nine of 14 shots from the floor, two of four from three-point range, and made seven of 12 free throws.

“He was a tough match-up for us,” said Portland guard Michael Devoe, who scored a game-high 29 points. “We just wanted to be physical with him and try to make him make tough shots over us. He did a great job but defensively we did a great job too.”

In his debut on Friday, Wembanyama struggled with nine points, eight rebounds, five blocked shots and three assists in just over 27 minutes as the Spurs beat the Charlotte Hornets 76-68. He made only two-of-13 shots from the floor.

“In the past month, I don’t think basketball was 50 per cent of my schedule,” Wembanyama said. “I can’t stand it. I know it’s a special moment in my life but I’m glad it’s over. I just want to hoop, work out, lift, because this is my life. It just makes me better for the future.”

Against the Trail Blazers, Wembanyama looked more comfortable with the Spurs’ offensive schemes, something he said was a problem in his first game, and was able to make dunks and grab attacking rebounds.

“I wish we would have won the game,” he said. “I could have done more to help my teammates win this game. We’ve got to keep learning. They could see us developing. In the fourth we were really dominating. It shows the real personality of the team.”

The Summer League, featuring young prospects trying to earn a place on NBA rosters, marks Wembanyama’s first games in a Spurs uniform and a hint of what he might face against more veteran competition when the regular season begins in October.

Wembanyama said after his first practice that he was not going to play more than two Summer League games. The Spurs play Washington next on Tuesday and face Detroit three days later.

“I need to sit down with the Spurs to see what the next months are going to be like, when to go on vacation, when to start back working out, where I’m going to practise,” he said. “We’ve got two or three great months that are coming. They are going to change my life.”

The Spurs announced on Saturday that coach and president of basketball operations Gregg Popovich, 74, has signed a new five-year contract with the club. He is the longest-tenured coach in American sports, has guided the Spurs to five NBA titles and the United States team to Tokyo Olympic gold.

“It’s a sign from him and from the franchise that they care about the project,” Wembanyama said. “There’s something great starting.” AFP