Fervor in very hot weather: Victor Wembanyama, chosen first in the NBA draft the day before by the Spurs, arrived at the airport in San Antonio (Texas) on Friday afternoon, greeted by some 300 excited fans under 38 degrees. The private jet in which he traveled from New York, where the ceremony took place on Thursday evening, landed on the airport tarmac at 3:55 p.m. local time (10:55 p.m. Paris time).
If the media were authorized to film his descent from the plane in the premises of the cool airport, the Spurs supporters, some of whom were present around mid-morning, installed under parasols and equipped with coolers, were gathered behind a wide chain-link fence on a roadside. Seeing the device arrive, they screamed, like the day before during the evening of the draft broadcast in the AT
Placards, each more inventive or funny than the other, have flourished. “Aliens exist and in the United States we welcome them!”, had written a fan, in reference to the way in which Wembanyama is perceived by LeBron James who used this word. “Wemby’s a p… from Spur!”, it read here, “My daughter is single, marry her!” suggested a woman in her sixties. Suddenly, the decibels climbed very high when the 19-year-old French prodigy appeared, as he got off the plane, additionally dressed in a white jersey from the Texas team. Except… it wasn’t him, but his brother Oscar, totally taken aback by the delirium happening before his eyes.
The ardor obviously did not drop when its giant silhouette (2.24m) finally made its appearance. No mistake possible this time and the coyote that serves as the Spurs mascot receiving “Wemby!” with a hug. The sequel was worthy of a Beatles tour, the 19-year-old pivot going to enjoy a walkabout through the fence interposed with the fans, to have their picture taken, all smiles and sign autographs. “I have his signature!, a fan couldn’t believe, all moved by showing his scribbled cap. This guy is going to change the NBA!”
Whereupon, Wembanyama, white t-shirt over jogging, flip-flops and socks, in a style far removed from his Louis-Vuitton outfit the day before, took the time to shake hands with police bikers, waiting to escort him. In a large black van, he eventually left the scene and the fans continued to sing his praises. Insatiable and happy, in a ballet of horns.
