Wenby is warning the world.
Victor Wembanyama sent a strong message after France’s loss to the United States in the gold medal match of the 2024 Olympic Games on Sunday.
The French basketball phenom and star of the Spurs told Mike Finger of the San Antonio Express-News that he’s “worried” about what other teams will do over the next few years.
“I’m still learning. I’m worried about who I’ll be playing in a few years,” Wenbanyama said.
When Finger asked if he was talking about the NBA or FIBA, Wembanyama simply replied:
“Anywhere.”
The 20-year-old Wenbanyama was no doubt fired up by France’s loss to the United States in the gold medal race for the second consecutive Olympic Games, after the Americans had to settle for silver in a tough battle.
Last season’s NBA Rookie of the Year had a standout performance for France in the gold medal game, recording 26 points, seven rebounds and two assists.
He averaged 15.8 points per game during the Olympics, along with 9.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists in six games played in the Summer Olympics.
The United States has been dominant at the Olympics since NBA players began competing in 1992, and has only failed to win a gold medal once during that time.
Their only defeat came at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
But France has developed into an emerging force on the international stage, and Wembanyama is expected to play an even bigger role when the Olympics are held in Los Angeles in 2028.
With Zachary Lisacher and Alex Sarr, who were the first and second overall picks, respectively, in this year’s NBA Draft, France will be well positioned to compete for a championship again in four years’ time.
Wenbanyama will play his first NBA season in 2023-24, averaging 21.4 points and 10.6 rebounds while shooting 46.5 percent from the field.
