The San Antonio Spurs, with their towering French rookie Victor Wembanyama, have rolled into Austin for a couple of games including a showdown against the reigning champs, the Denver Nuggets. Wembanyama, standing at a jaw-dropping 7-foot-4 and the likely shoo-in for Rookie of the Year, has proven himself as more than just a giant on the court, averaging a double-double with 20.7 points and 10.3 rebounds a game before even turning 21, as per KXAN.
The Rookie, despite his team's struggle this season with a dismal record of 14-52, showcases maturity well beyond his years and remains unfazed by the glare of NBA stardom. His down-to-earth demeanor might just be as impressive as his domination in the paint, with Spurs' veteran coach Gregg Popovich saying in a statement obtained by KXAN, "He wins with class and he loses with grace, and we're fortunate to have someone with that kind of character to build around."
Friday's game at Moody Center marks the Spurs' first engagement in the I-35 Series against the battle-hardened Nuggets, who previously managed to outplay them 132-120 in their last encounter; but Wembanyama is not deterred, expressing his admiration for the consistency of NBA stars like Denver's Nikola Jokic, who dropped a staggering 39 points against the Spurs back in November, Wembanyama admitted watching pros like Jokic is an education.
The burgeoning star also said he's looking forward to soaking in some local culture, expressing a desire to catch a Texas Longhorns game — though he jumped straight to pro basketball at the tender age of 15, hence not familiar with the college scene, during an interview with KXAN he mentioned that "he has a lot to learn about Austin," and looks to take in as much as he can while in town.
As the Spurs set their sights on the Brooklyn Nets to close their Austin visit, Wembanyama is gearing up for the intensity of the upcoming games; in a video captured by the team, he conveyed a growing fondness for Austin and the excitement surrounding the games, "I think it's gonna be very intense," he shared on YouTube.
Austin fans are in for a treat as they watch one of the NBA's most exciting young talents under the bright lights this weekend — a player determined not only to win but to leave an impression on the city's rich basketball landscape.
