Victor Wembanyama gives fans a pre-game show vs Brazil. What did the French star do?
The excitement surrounding basketball in the 2024 Olympics has been immense and France’s Victor Wembanyama has been a major part of the reason why.
From Joel Embiid’s comments about Team USA’s chances to the solid performances we’ve seen from other teams in the tournament, it’s clear that Paris is going to provide basketball fans with some unexpected twists and turns, and at the center of it all, the NBA Draft’s No. 1 pick appears to be doing his best push that narrative with a showcase of his talents.
Victor Wembanyama knows how to hype a crowd
If you caught the opening game of host nation France against Brazil on Saturday, then you know that the Europeans got the better of their South American opponents in a game that ended 78-66. Not entirely surprising for a team that boasts the likes of the above-mentioned rookie sensation, as well as multi-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert. Yet, it wasn’t so much what happened in the game that got everybody talking, but rather what went down before it tipped off.
Indeed, as teams and staff began their preparations for the opening group stage game, Wembanyama appeared on the court extra early for his warm-ups and seemingly decided to put on a show for the crowd that was already in attendance at the arena. If there was any doubt about whether his reputation preceded him, the NBA’s newest star laid them to rest with a halfcourt shot that he nailed like he meant to, garnering a whole host of cheers from the fans. Then, the 7-foot-4 budding star effortlessly pulled off a between-the-legs dunk that turned things up a notch.
Truthfully, whether you’re a French fan or not, a hat has got to be tipped to the 20-year-old who enjoyed an incredible introduction to the NBA this past season and now gets to represent his country in the very Olympics that it’s hosting. With the obvious talent on the roster, Wemby and Co. have got to be eyeing a medal at these Summer Games and if we’re honest they look to be a decent bet to get their hands on one. Of course, these are still early days but with the backing of the home crowd and Wembanyama playing to and for it, we’d suggest keeping an eye on the French.