LAS VEGAS — The thousands who flocked to see Victor Wembanyama’s NBA Summer League debut muttered to themselves about his ball-screening skills.
In other words, what we saw of the No. 1 draft international sensation in his first game in the San Antonio Spurs jersey has been largely forgotten.
Wembanyama struggled through much of his summer league debut, recording nine points with eight rebounds and five blocks on 2 of 13 shots in a 76-68 win over the Charlotte Hornets.
19-year-old Wembanyama of France, who played 92 LNB Pro A’s for the Metropolitans this season, looked like he hadn’t played basketball in a while. He was absent from the Spurs summer league games in California this week, and that’s after weeks of banquet rounds and celebrity acquaintance that come with the fact that he was not only the presumed top pick, but also a teenager with huge expectations of him , his rust/ Lack of conditioning was evident.
“I trained a few times with the guys from the roster… and yeah, that’s pretty much all I’ve been able to do in basketball,” Wembanyama said. “I trained alone a few days before. And yes, it was a really special time for me because it falls between the end of my season and the draft and then summer league.
“I really need the rest that comes after that and this summer will be great for my future.”
The Spurs’ next summer league game is Sunday against the Portland Trail Blazers. No. 3 Scoot Henderson is with the Blazers but he injured his shoulder in the third quarter of his debut on Friday and it remains to be seen if he will play.
Wembanyama was arguably outclassed by the 2023 draft’s #2 pick, Charlotte’s Brandon Miller, who, while not exactly making a splash, was quicker and sharper with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
Miller threw a 3-ball at Wembanyama in the fourth quarter, in one of several possession encounters where they were even; Fans who were still there murmured in unison.
A sell-out crowd at the Thomas and Mack Arena on the UNLV campus had gathered from the upper deck and behind the baskets in the lower bowl well before the end of the game.
“It was a very special moment, really special to wear the jersey for the first time,” said Wembanyama.
The hype surrounding Wembanyama’s debut rivaled that of Zion Williamson in 2019. Williamson didn’t quite live up to the buzz on his summer debut (or after) but at least there was an earthquake that night that shook the scoreboard and halted play. The only tremor in the building that night was the rim as Charlotte’s Kai Jones caught a lob in the third quarter and smashed it over Wembanyama.
Aside from jokes about ball shields (which were mainly his role in Spurs’ offense after the first quarter), Wembanyama’s sheer size and presence on defense stood out. When the score was 7: 4, he not only blocked these five shots, but also converted numerous others as a resilient disruptor. The shot, holds and rim attacks he has shown on offense – for the Metropolitans or Team France – will come.
He was on his way to a scoreless second half until he scored a 3 and was fouled with 2:50 left in the game. On his last 3-point attempt one possession earlier, Wembanyama was wide open and hit the backboard (and nothing else).
“The biggest improvement I need to make is to be ready to react when the game comes up,” he said.
Spurs summer coach Matt Nielsen added: “I think overall he’s done a good job. Apparently he gets a lot of attention. You can talk about the external things but physicality and that was something they obviously wanted to go for as did you and overall I thought he did pretty well.”
Wembanyama’s week had already begun, fitting for someone who would be in the public eye for the next two decades. He was involved in a strange, awkward incident between Spurs security and pop music star Britney Spears, who grabbed Wembanyama from behind and tried to say hello as he entered a restaurant at the ARIA Resort and Casino on Wednesday night.
According to the Associated Press, law officials will not press charges against Spurs’ security after police found Spears accidentally hit himself in the face as the guard tried to separate her from Wembanyama. She had claimed the Spurs official hit her.
“I haven’t been here long,” Wembanyama said of his first week in the NBA. “Everything is calculated and there is a really good organization around me. Yes, I think it all works together.”
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(Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)