French basketball legend Victor Wembayama is widely projected to be the No. 2 overall draft pick in June.
Last week, the Spurs won the top spot in the draft. Therefore, Wambaniama is expected to start his NBA career in San Antonio, where he will be under legendary coach Gregg Popovich.
The 19-year-old is already battling huge expectations, and he hasn’t had a single shot in the league. But, when it comes to his international basketball career, Vembanayama has a bold ambition.
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Victor Wembanyama of Metropolitans 92 reacts during a warm-up before the Batclique Elite match between Metropolitans 92 and Strasbourg on April 08, 2023 in Levallois-Perret, France. (Aurelian Meunier/Getty Images)
Vembanayama’s mind is already on next year’s Olympic Games, which are scheduled to be held in Paris.
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According to ESPN’s Sam Borden, the basketball phenom is looking forward to the opportunity for France to defeat the US men’s basketball team en route to a gold medal.
“You know the Olympics are in Paris in 2024,” Vembanayama told Pascal Gibernay, a French broadcaster and author, last fall. “And there could be no better opportunity for me to win my first title with the French national team.
“My goal,” he added, “is to beat Team America in the finals.”
Victor Vembaniama of Metropolitans 92 during the LNB Pro A Betclick Elite basketball match between Nanterre 92 and Metropolitans 92 at Palais des Sports Maurice Thorez, Paris, France on May 09, 2023 in Nanterre. (Christian Leivig – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)
Vembanayama already has a pair of silver medals.
He won a silver medal at the FIBA Under-16 European Championship in 2019 and another silver medal at the FIBA Under-19 World Cup in 2021.
Victor Wembanayama #1 of the Metropolitans 92 handles the ball during the game against the G League Ignite on October 4, 2022 at The Dollar Loan Center Arena in Henderson, Nevada. (David Baker/NBA via Getty Images)
Next year will be Wambaniyama’s first chance to represent his native country at the Olympics.
Team USA defeated the French men’s national team in the finals of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
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The French men’s basketball team has never won gold at the Olympics, but having Vembanayama on the roster will boost the team’s chances in 2024.
