Victor Wembanyama commits to the French national team for the Paris Olympics and eyes gold on home soil.
No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Victor Wembanyama, has officially expressed his intention to join the French national team for the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris.
"Succeeding in the Olympics would be a great story. And there will be no goal other than gold. Of course, I will be present at the Olympics," Wembanyama confidently stated via L'Equipe.
"I watched the FIBA World Cup, and the result was very disappointing. However, I am not worried. I have no judgment to make; I was not on the team, and it is in the hands of top-level players. I feel that this does not alter the opportunity to do something big in Paris next year," the San Antonio Spurs big man added.
Wembanyama's absence from the recently concluded FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 was a conscious decision made after consulting with his closest advisors, the medical team, and several members of the French national team's leadership.
"It would not be realistic in terms of development and not careful in terms of health," Wembanyama explained in an interview with L'Equipe in late June. "I hope people will understand. It's frustrating for me too. The France team is still my focus. I want to win as many titles as possible with it. But I think it's a necessary sacrifice."
Wemby made his French NT debut last November during the FIBA World Cup European Qualifiers. He competed in four games for France, averaging 19.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 22.5 EFF per contest.
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