A page turns for Victor Wembanyama. The 19-year-old prodigy played his last match in France on Thursday. At least, his last match as a player for a French club, in this case Boulogne-Levallois, beaten in the championship final by AS Monaco (85-92) at Roland-Garros. “It’s just a goodbye,” smiled the interested party at a press conference, he who will return with the France team. It remains to be seen when. “Wemby” has expressed his desire to play in the World Cup which will take place in Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines from August 25 to September 10, 2023. “It will indeed require real collaboration with all parties. But for now, he is very motivated to participate. There is good news, ”said Vincent Collet, optimistic, last April.
If this requires “real collaboration” from “all parties”, it is obviously that the 2.21 giant is preparing to join the NBA, and barring disaster, the San Antonio Spurs. Been loaded in perspective. As a result, neither Collet, Mets coach and coach of the France team, nor Wembanyama, wanted to be assertive on Thursday. “I have to talk about it with Vincent, said the main interested party, who will quickly cross the Atlantic for the NBA Draft on June 22. My desire has always been to represent France. Next up is training camp in September… Talking to my franchise? Yes, of course, we have to talk about it with them too.
Failing to be sure to be able to count on “Wemby”, coach Collet has in any case a shovelful of arguments to try to convince him to come. “No, but I very much hope so,” said the Norman technician, who will unveil his list on June 28. I think it would be desirable for him. He’s young. Even if we want to play it hard, this World Cup is a launching pad for the Olympic Games. The sooner it is integrated, the better. Between what you have already seen and what we will continue to see, you can imagine that Victor is not going to be an average player for the France team. He will very quickly become one of our leaders, even the leader. I also think that the experience of a World Cup is what would best prepare him for his entry into the NBA. It’s important for him too.” And to continue, again evoking “adjustments” to be expected: “He needs to rest, he has given a lot and he will still be in demand by then. You will have to be smart. But I hope we can collaborate with his franchise. I don’t want to quote her because normally she is not yet known but we know her a little. I also received congratulations from the GM (laughs)”, Collet had fun, referring to the Spurs.
Vincent Collet also believes that it is “important” for Victor Wembanyama to be at the World Cup in order to rub shoulders with the players “he will meet next season in the NBA, players he has not met in Betclic Elite with a few exceptions, like (Donatas) Montejunas or John Brown, maybe. At that age, experience cannot be replaced, and that’s normal. Remember that the MVP of the French championship has already worn the jersey of the French team four times, during the windows during the season. To see when he celebrates his fifth cape. Third in the previous edition in China, in 2019, the Blues will challenge Latvia, Lebanon and Canada in the first round of the World Cup. A (very) strong group.
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