The “Wembymania” took on yet another dimension this weekend. Acclaimed the day before by more than 300 people on his arrival at San Antonio airport, Victor Wembanyama, Saturday morning, June 24, paraded and took a crowd bath at the Riverwalk, in the heart of this Texas city. The place, a sort of pedestrianized promenade full of shops, was adorned with Spurs logos for the presentation to the supporters of the two rookies (beginners) French, Sidy Cissoko and Victor Wembanyama, therefore.
“I was always told about the San Antonio Spurs. It is probably the most important franchise in the history of French basketball.explains the 19-year-old player, on a stage set up for the occasion, while a photo of his young years, Nanterre era, is projected with the Spurs jersey on his shoulders.
Drafted in first place at the Barclays Center in New York on Thursday, Victor Wembanyama is already more than just a player for the Texas franchise. Spurs’ other two first draft picks, in 1987 with David Robinson and in 1997 with Tim Duncan, hadn’t sparked such madness in this city of 1.5 million people. Between a few Summer League matches and probably the World Cup (from August 25 to September 10, in Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines), Victor Wembanyama will not have much time to discover this former Mexican city, very Catholic and already crazy about him.
Candles representing “Wemby” in Christ and several murals gradually appeared in the streets. “The Wemby Burger”, made with foie gras and sold for 1 dollar on the day of the draft, or even a drink called “The Alien” were popular in San Antonio. “These last seventy-two hours have been a compendium of incredible emotions for Victornotes Bouna N’Diaye, one of the Frenchman’s two agents. Spurs fans didn’t know him but they welcomed him like he was a member of the family. Everything is like a dream, really. »
“I want to make an impression”
Following in the footsteps of Tony Parker and Boris Diaw at Spurs, Victor Wembanyama was able, very furtively, to discover the facilities of the AT & T Center (18,500 seats). Before he appeared on the floor for his first words to the local press, the room was plunged into darkness. A music video, featuring some of his best deeds and poignant messages from loved ones, was then projected onto the room’s cube.
Presented to the press in near-anonymity – only Spurs employees and their families were able to attend the event – the former Boulogne-Levallois Mets player was received with dignity by the franchise. “It’s a legendary day for Spurs”insisted Jordan Howenstine, one of the seven press officers of the franchise, in the introduction.
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