Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

For Wembanyama, Spurs' win 'a special moment'

Written by 
Published in Basketball
Wednesday, 17 May 2023 00:45

PARIS -- A clutch performance to clinch a playoff seed, hanging at a party with Kylian Mbappe and then getting emotional with his mother after learning he was heading to the San Antonio Spurs.

Victor Wembanyama had quite a Tuesday night.

First, he scored 14 of his team-high 22 points in the fourth quarter of a 93-85 victory for his Boulogne-Levallois Metropolitans over crosstown rival Paris Basketball. After being in foul trouble for much of the middle of the game, Wembanyama made a series of jumpers in traffic to help his team take a fourth-quarter lead. He then iced it with a thunderous dunk with six seconds left.

He celebrated at center court after the win, which put the Mets into the second seed for the upcoming French Pro A League playoffs, by screaming and pumping his fists. Then he made a lap around his home arena, signing autographs and posing for photos with celebrities including French movie star Omar Sy and French soccer icon Mbappe.

Wembanyama finished off a regular season in which he averaged 22 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocks per game, all of which led the league. Before the game he received a trophy for being the league's top shot-blocker, and he is expected to claim its MVP honor this week.

A short time later, he was in a car on the way to Nike's Paris headquarters on the Champs Elysees, dressed for a draft lottery party that started at nearly midnight. Family, teammates, coaches, friends and the celebs joined him for a spirited event that had to last into the middle of the night because the lottery didn't begin until 2 a.m. local time.

Wembanyama, 19, smiled and shook his head in disbelief as ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski opened the lottery broadcast by saying NBA teams viewed him as maybe the most highly anticipated player to enter the draft and "maybe the greatest prospect in the history of team sports."

Some of the veteran agents and coaches in the room looked at one another as they took in the surreal feeling of the moment.

Murmurs went through the small crowd as each team came off the board. When the broadcast went to commercial and four teams remained -- the Spurs, the Charlotte Hornets, the Houston Rockets and the Portland Trail Blazers -- Wembanyama put his hand over his heart as tension filled the air.

When the envelope for the second pick was opened to reveal a teal Hornets logo, meaning the Spurs had gotten the winning number 4,000 miles away, the room burst into applause. Wembanyama, with his parents on each side of him, broke into a smile before emotion came over his face as he wiped his eyes at the gravity of the moment.

Though he was clear throughout the process that he didn't have a preferred destination, the Spurs are a popular team in France because national basketball legends Boris Diaw and Tony Parker thrived and won titles in San Antonio.

It was clear Wembanyama, his agents and his family were pleased with the outcome.

"My heart's beating [fast]," Wembanyama said after he learned of his destination. "I've got everyone I know, everyone I love around me. It's a really special moment I'm going to remember the rest of my life."

After missing the playoffs just once in 29 years between 1990 and 2019, the Spurs have missed the playoffs in four consecutive seasons. It was the first time they'd won the draft lottery since 1997. San Antonio drafted Hall of Fame big men David Robinson and Tim Duncan the past two times it had the No. 1 overall pick.

Though NBA teams were asked by the league office in a recent memo not to disclose their choice in the event they won the lottery, there was no mystery about Wembanyama's future as dawn approached in the French capital.

Wembanyama, on a draining but fulfilling day, headed off to bed knowing he would be a Spur.

"I'm trying to win a ring ASAP," he said. "So get ready."

Read 187 times

Soccer

Man City's Foden named PL Player of the Season

Man City's Foden named PL Player of the Season

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsPhil Foden has been named the Premier League's Player of the Season...

Klopp: Liverpool ready for exciting new direction

Klopp: Liverpool ready for exciting new direction

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsJürgen Klopp has said Liverpool will move in an "exciting direction...

Madueke backs Lavia to take Chelsea to next level

Madueke backs Lavia to take Chelsea to next level

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNoni Madueke believes Chelsea are starting to "take shape" under Ma...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Pacers spurred by fiery Carlisle, roll into Game 7

Pacers spurred by fiery Carlisle, roll into Game 7

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsINDIANAPOLIS -- When the Indiana Pacers fell behind 2-0 in their se...

Sources: Porzingis likely out for start of East finals

Sources: Porzingis likely out for start of East finals

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsBoston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis is expected to remain side...

Baseball

Twins frustrated by plate ump, rare rule violation

Twins frustrated by plate ump, rare rule violation

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCLEVELAND -- Following a one-run loss, Minnesota manager Rocco Bald...

'This fan base is going to fall in love with him': How Luis Arráez is following in Tony Gwynn's footsteps

'This fan base is going to fall in love with him': How Luis Arráez is following in Tony Gwynn's footsteps

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsComparisons to Tony Gwynn began to follow Luis Arráez when he first...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated