If Victor Wembanyama managed a complete match against the Denver Nuggets on Sunday November 26 in the NBA, he could not prevent the twelfth defeat in a row for his team, the San Antonio Spurs (132-120). The 19-year-old French prodigy, number 1 in the spring draft, shone with 22 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 blocks and 6 steals in twenty-four minutes. But the Spurs were quickly overtaken by the defending champion, Denver, who nevertheless remained on four defeats in five games. They notably fell on the Serbian pivot Nikola Jokic, once again immense, with 39 points, 11 rebounds and 9 assists.
“ [Wembanyama] played aggressively, weighed on the match in many ways, blocking, scoring, passing”praised his coach, Gregg Popovich. “He is an altruistic player who quickly forgets his mistakes. His defense continues to improve, every game he learns, how the league works, how we want to play, he is constantly improving. I want him to play near the circle [comme un pivot] but also outdoors, he has the means to play well in both positions”said the coach about the versatile Frenchman, both immense (2.24 m) and agile, who is starting to spend more time in the “low position” these last few matches.
The Texans, the youngest squad in the NBA, remain in last place in the Western Conference (three wins-fourteen losses). They haven’t won since November 2 in Phoenix. After a rare three-day break in the NBA, they will host Atlanta on Thursday.