Victor Wembanyama captivated fans with his dazzling one-handed dunks as France launched its quest for a men’s basketball gold medal at the Paris Olympics.
In an impressive start to their preparations, the NBA Rookie of the Year wowed the crowd with his aerial displays in a commanding 96-46 victory over Turkey. Wembanyama, showing prowess on both ends of the court, led all scorers with 24 points and added six rebounds in front of a packed audience of approximately 5,500 in Rouen.
The game marked the first of six warm-up matches for France ahead of the July 26-August 11 Games.
“Victor played a dominant game. He was formidable in defense and versatile in attack. This is a new dimension for Team France,” remarked captain Nicolas Batum. “His presence is a significant asset for us in various game scenarios.”
The 20-year-old, who stars for the San Antonio Spurs, also formed a promising partnership with veteran center Rudy Gobert of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Gobert, a four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, complemented Wembanyama’s performance, showcasing their potential synergy on the court.
Wembanyama in Paris #Olympics has history written all over pic.twitter.com/FGyZqRi3fg
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) July 4, 2024
“While there’s still room for improvement,” Batum added, looking ahead to the Olympics, “having two exceptional players like Victor and Rudy is immensely beneficial.”
The exhibition also highlighted the defensive prowess of Bilal Coulibaly, a rookie guard with the Washington Wizards, adding depth to France’s lineup.
Despite narrowly losing the gold-medal match 87-82 to the United States at the Tokyo Olympics, France is optimistic about their chances on home soil under coach Vincent Collet’s guidance. They are viewed as one of the strongest contenders alongside traditional powerhouses like the U.S., Canada, Serbia, and reigning world champion Germany.
Reflecting on the upcoming competition, Wembanyama expressed anticipation about potentially facing NBA legends such as LeBron James and Stephen Curry in another potential France-USA final.
“I’m eager for the challenge. It would be an exciting matchup,” said Wembanyama in Paris. “As a basketball player, playing against Team USA and these iconic players is a dream come true.”
France’s campaign in Group B at the Olympics will commence against the winner of the final qualifying tournament later this week. Subsequently, they will face Japan and Germany in the 12-team tournament hosted in Lille, a northern French city.
French basketball is currently experiencing a surge in popularity fueled by Wembanyama’s meteoric rise and the emergence of new talents. This year, two French players were selected as the top two picks in the NBA draft: Zaccharie Risacher by the Atlanta Hawks and Alexandre Sarr by the Washington Wizards. Tidjane Salaün was also drafted sixth overall by the Charlotte Hornets.
France joins the United States as the only nations with three players drafted within the top 10 picks of an NBA draft, showcasing the country’s growing influence on the global basketball stage.