Victor Wembanyama delights Paris crowd as he leads the San Antonio Spurs to an easy NBA win
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San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama in action with Indiana Pacers' Ben Sheppard in Paris.
PHOTO: REUTERS
PARIS – Victor Wembanyama said he played one of the best five games of his young career after delighting his home crowd in Paris on Jan 23 by scoring 30 points to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 140-110 rout of the Indiana Pacers.
The 21-year-old centre took control of the game in a third-quarter performance when the Spurs roared into a 23-point lead.
Wembanyama was playing in the French league 1½ years ago before his selection as the No. 1 pick in the 2023 National Basketball Association (NBA) draft set him on the path to global stardom.
Returning to France with the Spurs for the first time, the 2.21m player’s first block of the game brought loud cheers from a crowd of nearly 16,000 at the sold-out Bercy Arena, where he helped France claim a silver at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
There was an even bigger roar when he scored his first points four minutes and 30 seconds into the game on the way to 15 first-half points.
“That was one of the matches that was closest to my heart,” Wembanyama said. “And in terms of pure performance, it’s in the top five. It means everything. It’s crazy to have the public like that. Tonight was different. It’s a different kind of support that the crowd brings and we tried to use the circumstances to our advantage and tonight was an easy night to use it to our advantage.”
The first of two regular-season games in the French capital this week was watched by a host of former NBA stars, including French four-time NBA champion Tony Parker, his former San Antonio teammates Manu Ginobili and David Robinson, as well as Pau Gasol and the legendary Oscar Robertson.
Paris Saint-Germain footballers Ousmane Dembele and Achraf Hakimi and Super Bowl winner Odell Beckham Jr were also on hand to enjoy the action.
They saw Wembanyama drive his team to a 103-80 lead in the third quarter with three rejections in a row, two assists and a thunderous dunk, bringing the crowd to their feet to chant “MVP, MVP, MVP” as they hailed their Most Valuable Player (MVP).
“I told Vic after the game, this is one of the best complete games I’ve seen him play all season long,” the Spurs’ veteran guard Chris Paul told reporters.
“With the expectations, being home in front of all his family and friends, in front of all you guys, some guys could get lost in the game and start doing too much, but I think he played a great game both ends of the court and it’s really nice to get the win in the first of two games.”
Devin Vassell added 25 points for the Spurs, who could afford to bench Wembanyama and his fellow starters with five minutes left. They moved to a 20-22 record for the season and stay in contention for the play-in tournament.
Bennedict Mathurin scored a team-high 24 points for the Pacers.
The Spurs meet the Pacers again on the same court on Jan 25.
Back in the United States, LeBron James and Anthony Davis combined to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 117-96 thumping of defending champions Boston Celtics.
In the first meeting of the season between the two iconic rivals who have won 35 NBA championships between them, the Lakers produced a superb all-round display to outclass the visiting Celtics.
James finished with 20 points, 14 rebounds and six assists while Davis weighed in with 24 points. AFP
