France’s rookie player Victor Wembanyama admitted it is a dream come true moment to represent his country at the Olympics. The youngster recalled that he told his parents he wanted to play for the country at the Rio Olympics 2016 when he was only 12 years old.
After eight years, Victor’s dream is complete and there is nothing better than representing your country in the biggest sporting carnival on earth in front of the home crowd.
“When I was a kid, when I just started basketball, I always told my parents, I wanted to be in Rio in 2016 with the basketball team,” Wembanyama said at the end of the San Antonio Spurs regular season. “So I’m a little bit late, but it’s all good.”
France kicked off their campaign on a winning note with a 78-66 win against Brazil, with Wembanyama top-scoring with 19 points.
Meanwhile, Wembanyama was awarded the Rookie of the Year in his debut 2023-24 season and became the first rookie in NBA history to make the league’s All-Defensive first team.
In five matches before the Olympics, Wembanyama averaged 18.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.2 blocks while shooting 56.9% overall, 40.0% from 3 and 90% from the line.
“The few times I’ve [played for France] in the past were incredible already, but now that it’s official and the biggest competition, ” Wembanyama told ESPN in May. “I can’t even imagine how it’s going to be.”
Wembanyama feels playing for France brings a different kind of energy in him.
“I’m really, really excited. I know that wearing the jersey, even with the [youth] teams, it always brings some different kind of energy. So I’m really excited, ” Wembanyamana told ESPN.
France will next take on Japan on Tuesday.
