Victor Wembanyama in Blue this summer? The 19-year-old prodigy had to give up on injury last summer. a few weeks ago, Vincent Collet displayed his optimism, after the draw for the World Cup which will take place in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia from August 25 to September 10. Canada, Latvia and Lebanon on the menu. The coach – and coach of Boulogne-Levallois for the past season – was however not yet sure at the end of the final of the French championship, on June 15. “Sure to have it this summer? No, but I really want it and I think it would be desirable for him,” said the Norman technician. The interested party had also spared the suspense, adding that he would have to “speak with (his) future franchise”. He made the point again this Wednesday, on the eve of the Draft, Thursday, in Brooklyn: “It is always my will to make the World Cup. I’m waiting to agree with my frankness.”
Future first choice of the Draft, “Wemby” is promised to San Antonio, he who is already “sure” to participate in the Summer League, without detailing whether it would be Sacramento (July 3 and 5) or Las Vegas (July 7-17), or both. “Certainly not all the matches, because (…) I had a long season before and I have something after,” he added to the press, adding that “we will have to see with (his) future franchise for the number of matches”. The Summer League are those tournaments that allow franchises to test their new players before training camps. The best elements, however, make only a brief appearance as a rule, for the form. This will undoubtedly be the case for the French.
“There is time between the Summer League and the World Cup”, still swears the 2.21m giant, ensuring that he was “in the best shape of the season” during the (lost) final against Monaco and therefore “too tired”. It is on June 28 that Vincent Collet will unveil his list for a World Cup which he sees as a “launch pad for the Olympics”, in 2024. Hence the interest in having Wembenyama this summer. “Victor is not going to be a lambda player for the France team. He will very quickly become one of our leaders, even the leader”, analyzes Vincent Collet, who can already rely on a group made up of Evan Fournier, Rudy Gobert (who still reserves his answer), Nicolas Batum or Nando de Colo , to name but a few, for this summer. Not to mention Joel Embiid, who should not be there this summer but who could join the France group for the Paris Olympics. At least if he doesn’t choose Team USA. One thing is certain: the future of Les Bleus belongs to Wembanyama. To see if this is also the case of the present.
(With AFP)
