Photo:Arturo Holmes/Getty
Arturo Holmes/Getty
Victor Wembanyama, the NBA’s No. 1 draft pick, has alreadyhad his share of off-the-court dramaand has two Summer League games under his belt, but the 19-year-old French phenom tells PEOPLE he’s most excited about what’s to come.
Widely lauded as a generational talent, the 7-foot 3-and-a-half-inch center played in the Spurs’ first two games in Las Vegas last Friday and Sunday.
In what was his official NBA debut, he scored an underwhelming nine points on 2-for-13 shooting, sparking online pundits to question his fitness and frame. But two days later, the rising star turned the tables on that narrative, delivering a double-double with 27 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks.
Victor Wembanyama.Christian Liewig - Corbis/Corbis via Getty
Christian Liewig - Corbis/Corbis via Getty
Almost one week later, he’s had time to reflect on what changed between the two games.
“The most important was playing with more energy because I am just a rookie,” he says. “I’m gonna need time to adapt, to adjust to this level and, but the thing I can always get good is the energy.”
Now, having closed the curtain on his Summer League experience, he’s energized to see what he can do in San Antonio for a city where both its residents — who greeted him enthusiastically on the airport’s tarmac when his plane first arrived — and its basketball legends have equally welcomed him with open arms.
Victor Wembanyama.Jamie Pearl/Courtesy of Barcode
Jamie Pearl/Courtesy of Barcode
Shortly after he arrived in the Alamo City, he shared a special meal with the team’s former No. 1 draft picks — NBA Hall of Famers David Robinson andTim Duncan— as well as Spurs legends Manu Ginobili and Sean Elliott.
As for now, the teenager is ready to get acclimated to his new home, where he says his parents, sister and brother –with whom he shared an emotional moment on draft night— may occasionally come visit.
He says he’s still taking recommendations for the city’s best breakfast taco, which could seemingly add a few welcome pounds to his frame.
“It was a no-brainer to choose Barcode to partner with,” he says, adding that the plant-based fitness drink “really stood out” from other beverages on the market with its herbal adaptogens that work to manage stress and restore balance.
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“As a rookie in a rebuilding team, it’s not easy to win a lot of games, but my goal is going to be winning as many as we can, and to learn how to get closer to winning the title,” he says. “And hopefully in the next coming years, we’re gonna win one.”
source: people.com
