Victor Wembanyama’s final French game ends in defeat as he turns attention to the NBA
Victor Wembanyama’s final French game ends in defeat as the Mets are swept 92 from the expected No. 1 spot in the championship series – with the NBA Draft just a week away
Expected No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama played his last game for his French team Metropolitans 92 after they lost Game 3 of the LNB Pro A’s championship series 92-85.
Wembanyama turned in a strong performance as expected with 22 points, seven rebounds and four blocks, though it wasn’t enough to keep his team from being swept.
To accommodate the growing interest in seeing the 19-year-old French prodigy, Game 3 – and 4 if they had won – were switched from a 4,000-seat venue to Court Philippe Chatrier at Roland Garros, the home of the French Open tennis championship with seats over 14,000.
Fans chanted ‘Merci, Wemby’ as the hugely popular Wembanyama waved and clapped at them.
“I’m sorry for the fans who like to see a show,” Wembanyama said after the game.
Acclaimed NBA prospect Victor Wembanyama played his last game for Mets 92 in France
He bid farewell to Metropolitans 92 fans after Thursday’s defeat at Roland Garros, Paris
He is expected to be ranked No. 1 overall by the San Antonio Spurs in the upcoming NBA Draft
“Of course I am proud of what I have achieved together with my coach (Vincent Collet) to take the team to the final. But I’m not satisfied.’
Next week, the San Antonio Spurs are expected to make 7-foot-4 Wembanyama the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft, where he will follow in the footsteps of French great Tony Parker and Hall of Famers David Robinson and Tim Duncan.
With Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadive in the audience—probably in view of Wembanyama teammate Bilal Coulibaly ahead of the draft—the Mets opened up a big lead, but with 50 seconds left, the score was tied at 85-85.
Jordan Loyd, a former NBA player with the Toronto Raptors, sank two three-pointers to end Wembanyama’s hopes of a French crown.
Ranadive told beIN Sport that Wembanyama is “amazing” but that “I’m also excited about Bilal. Young guy, lots of skills, so French basketball is in top form.’
Wembanyama, who opened the score with an inverted alley-oop dunklooked sad as he hugged his teammates as Monaco celebrated.
“Wemby played a great game but this team is incredible,” said Loyd, who finished with 22 points.
Everything had pointed to a special night for Wembanyama and then a Game 4 on Saturday. Wembanyama clenched his fist as his pass in for Devante Jones made it 24-10, then roared as he used his giant frame to block a shot early in the second quarter.
The 7-foot-4 hooper recorded 22 points, seven rebounds and four blocks in a loss to Monaco
Wembanyama reacts with teammate Lahaou Konate as they could not claim a French crown
The ‘Wemby, Wemby’ chants grew louder as he hit a three-pointer to make it 47-37, even louder when he slid to Coulibaly for a dunk early in the third quarter.
It wasn’t enough though, and it was ‘Wemby’ who put Elie Okobo on the foul line to give Monaco the first lead, 82-81, with just over three minutes remaining.
Loyd – not Wembanyama – finished with the MVP award and the winner’s medal on the court where Novak Djokovic made men’s Grand Slam history last Sunday with his 23rd men’s major title.
However, Wembanyama’s journey to greatness in his sport could only be just beginning.