Setting foot at Sovia Lauriano is like entering the realm of the San Antonio Spurs and Victor Wembanyama madness. At the entrance, a white pickup entirely adorned with Spurs autographs stands out. “If something were to happen to me, I don’t want to end up in a hearse, but in the back of this carproclaims this octogenarian, known as “Spurs Lady” in the Texan city. I have lived my whole life for Spurs, I want to die with my Spurs. » His house is like his car: entirely decorated with the image of the city’s basketball team. Balloons, caps, photos of all kinds, and above all two huge representations of Victor Wembanyama, proudly displayed, adorn the walls. “ Wemby will be my second love, after my Tony Parker”she exclaims, dressed in a very colorful outfit, and 100% Victor Wembanyama.
Number one in the draft – this sort of big purse for players not yet belonging to the NBA – the 19-year-old Frenchman makes his debut in the big North American league, Wednesday October 25 (during the night from Wednesday to Thursday in France), against the Dallas Mavericks. And, in San Antonio, “Wembamania” is in full swing. Frescoes, candles, burgers and alcoholic drinks, from Southtown to downtown via the home of the Spurs, “Wemby” is displayed in a big way, everywhere and in all ways.
Sometimes presented as the new mayor of San Antonio, often elevated to the rank of the new God of the city, the gigantic Frenchman is also compared to a supernatural force. “It’s an alien. He told me that when I met him”, laughs Robert Alvarado, a cowboy hat screwed on his head. This Spurs fan decided with his twin brother to create a Victor Wembanyama of 4.42 meters. “We took a photo of him and scaled it, then doubled his size”, explains this restorer of old houses. The artwork, beautifully decorated with different variations of the Spurs logo, is one of a kind. “For San Antonio, Wemby brings hope, confidence and faith. He exudes so much positivity and is unique in his way of being. And he’s real, he’s not a guru. » Simply an alien, then.
“The Americans are already crazy about him”
Nicknamed “The Alien” for his extraordinary physical predispositions, the 2.21 meter giant fascinates and inspires. With his 2.43 meter wingspan, the native of Chesnay (Yvelines) brings out actions from elsewhere – he also showed it in the NBA preseason –, and all the artists of the city went there with their mural. One of them shows the player eating a huge breakfast taco, the culinary specialty of San Antonio. Another depicts it with the Eiffel Tower and a tricolor flag in the background. “We wanted it to be bigger than the Eiffel Tower because it has enormous qualities, it has no limitsdepicts Michael Sanchez, the artist. This is our way of welcoming him properly to Texas, of reminding him of his roots, because it is important to remember them. » He, like the others, hopes that the Frenchman will find “his second home” in San Antonio.
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