Victor Wembanyama Talks Bounce Back 2nd NBA Summer League Game

Before we get to the game, I was just wondering your reaction to Pop signing a five-year contract. His reaction? Oh, of course, it's just another sign from him and from the franchise that they care about the project. There's something great going on, starting. We kind of knew it was going to happen, but now it's, you know, let's get it rolling. We can get started now. Sorry, I can't hear you. Was it a byproduct of the flow of the game, or had you made up your mind that you wanted to be more aggressive tonight? You looked, especially after you got the first basket, after you got your first one to go down, it just seemed like there was a lot more aggression from you on the offensive end, especially tonight. Was that by design, or just sort of the way the game happened? No, to me, it's just me getting comfortable with myself, with my body, with the court. Because before today, I had like two practices in one game. So it's just, I was just getting going. Physicality of the game. Yeah. How's your face? And what is the difference, have you noticed so far? Obviously, this is summer league. It's not the real NBA season. But what have you noticed is the difference between the league you were playing in and the style of play here? You know, it's, first of all, the court is more open. It's going fast, but it's less physical. And I get fouled a lot, but not as much. Nothing to compare. And yes, and people are like, people are here, players are just flying, you know. Out there, it's more on the ground, pushing on the ground, big box outs. Here, it's great athletes, the best in the world. More, way more talent. And yeah, but I like this better, though. Hey, Victor. Obviously, it's just summer league. But after your debut, how good did it feel to have a performance like you just did tonight? Well, I wish we would have won the game. And it's, yeah, I think I could have done more to have my team win this game. It is, we got to keep learning. And we haven't been playing our best for like three quarters. But in the fourth, we were really dominating. And it shows a real personality of a team. And I think that personally, I'm just, you know, it's normal to get better every game. Two days ago was my first game. I had like so much ---- going on with the draft, with the media and stuff. So it's just, you know, it makes sense. Victor, to kind of jump on Melissa's question, I know it's not your goal to give these people a show. But was there just a small part of you that was a bit relieved to give them the show that you gave them tonight? No, you know, I think the best show for the fans is the win. So obviously it's just summer league, but yeah, I think they can see us developing. They could see us developing tonight, getting better. And so yeah, it's, I think we, yeah, we gave them a good show. Yes, you have two actually really good agents, one in particular, Bona. Just wanted to ask you what he's meant to you over the years and kind of impact does he have on you? That's the first time I get asked this, you know, Bona was actually, I've known him for a long time. He was, he knew my parents for a long time before. And even though he's supposed to be the best and his agency is supposed to be the best in France and one of the best in the world, it wasn't an obvious choice for me to work with them. Back, I'm saying like three, four years ago. And so, but when I sat down and talked to him and Jeremy also, I saw that I felt like they could be more than just agents, you know? And cause there are people who are trying to actually know me and we don't care about, they don't care about the money. They don't care about the contracts. They're not trying to make me sign the most marketing contracts, you know? Cause we got something greater to entertain. We got something greater going on. And yeah, like they strive for greatness. And I think in the whole world, they're probably the only people who would best suit me to be my agents. Victor, to pick up on that, Bona told me tonight, in fact, that you told him, I just want to get back to playing basketball. Are you glad now that with these, all this over, that that's what you can concentrate on? Yeah. It's, you know, in the past month, I think basketball wasn't even 50% of my schedule. That was, you know, I can't stand it. I know it's a special moment in my life, but it's, I'm glad it's over. Honestly, it's, I just want to hoop. I just want to work out, lift. And cause this is my life. Obviously everyone, I mean, every first pick got to go through this, but yeah, it just makes me better for the future. Building on that, what are the rest of your plans for the summer? Do you plan on playing any more in summer league? And then after that, what are the next two, three months going to look like for you heading into the season? You know, I know I got to talk with Pop. I'm going to listen to what he's got to say, but I'm ready to make any sacrifice for the team and give 100%. And yeah, I'm just going to, I need to sit down with this person to know what the next months are going to be like, when to go on vacation, when to start back working out, where I'm going to practice in San Antonio, somewhere else. And yeah, I just know we got, as I'm not playing in the World Cup, we got two to three months, two to three great months that are coming and they're going to change my life. I'm probably going to disappear from the media for the next month, honestly. Victor, good evening. You had an incredible meeting yesterday with Karim Abdul-Jabbar. It was really an interesting exchange. Twenty-four hours later, what do you remember from that exchange with him? I found that all his advice was really very positive. And he didn't repeat himself twice in the advice he gave me. He saw that I was really listening. And for me, it was impressive to see Isaiah Thomas and Karim Abdul-Jabbar. And yeah, I really feel that there is, not just for me, but for all the young players. I really feel that he has compassion. And at the same time, he communicates to us how lucky we are to be here, but also, he gives us precious advice and is always very positive. Is there any advice that you remember, basketball or off-basket? There isn't one in particular, there are several. Last question. You've obviously experienced a lot of things since the beginning of the week here in Las Vegas. The extra-sport, the sportsman, the first game, the second, the meeting also yesterday. In short, what do you remember? What do you get out of this week in Vegas? Let's say it was a busy week in terms of time and events. I'm happy that we're finally starting to get serious in terms of basketball. It's hard to wait, I'm really in a hurry. I'm hungry to continue and to get the team back for the start of the season too. Victor, Loic Pialat for FP. You say that you are very well surrounded. You always seem very prepared, but now, with the three weeks you've just lived, is there something that bothered you the most, that tired you the most, that surprised you the most than what you had prepared in your head? Yes, sometimes there are a lot of obligations that surprise me, media obligations, whether it's the NBA or something else. It's not going to a conference after a game, it's nothing, it's five minutes. But sometimes it's a camera that follows you, even in your room. So there are a lot of things that surprised me, but only in basketball. As I said earlier, most of my time wasn't even dedicated to basketball. It's regrettable.