LAS VEGAS – The number one overall pick, Victor Wembanyama, may not have gotten the desired outcome in his second summer league game, but he showcased a much-improved performance compared to his debut. Wembanyama’s remarkable display of 27 points, 12 rebounds, and three blocks on 9-of-14 shooting couldn’t salvage a win for the San Antonio Spurs as they succumbed to the Portland Trail Blazers with an 85-80 loss.
Expressing his disappointment, Wembanyama stated, “I wish we could have won the game. I think I could have done more to help my team win the game. We have to keep learning. We haven’t been playing our best for like three quarters. Then, in the fourth quarter, we were really dominating. It shows the personality of the team. I think personally, it’s normal to get better every game. Two days ago was my first game.”
Wembanyama’s exceptional performance served as a response to his lackluster 2-of-13 shooting performance in the previous game. He also managed to convert two of his initial three attempts from beyond the arc, only missing his final shot in the closing seconds of the match.
Although the Spurs faced a daunting 16-point deficit entering the fourth quarter, they managed to diminish the gap to a single point after a 3-pointer from Wembanyama with 1:58 remaining on the clock. Unfortunately, their efforts fell short as they were unable to surpass the Blazers’ lead.
Wembanyama encountered some struggles early on, but his fortunes shifted after sinking a pull-up jumper and executing a dunk in the second quarter. Spurs guard Blake Wesley highlighted the impact of Wembanyama’s performance, stating, “I told him at shootaround this morning, I said, ‘We got to get you going early,’ and you see what happened. He had 27 tonight. When he gets going, he gets on fire.”
With three games remaining in Las Vegas, it remains uncertain whether Wembanyama will continue to participate. During the Spurs’ second summer league practice on June 29, Wembanyama expressed his intention to play at least one or two games. The Spurs’ forthcoming match is against the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night, who drafted Wembanyama’s Metropolitans 92 teammate, Bilal Coulibaly, with the seventh pick in this year’s draft.
When asked about his future participation, Wembanyama responded, “I know I got to talk with Pop. I’m going to listen to what he’s going to say, but I’m ready to make any sacrifice for the team and give 100%.” Regardless of when his summer season concludes, Wembanyama is determined to dedicate the next three months solely to basketball before the commencement of training camp. He expressed his eagerness, stating, “Like this past month, I think basketball wasn’t even 50% of my schedule. I can’t stand it. I know it’s a special moment in my life, but I’m just glad it’s over honestly. I just want to hoop, workout, and lift.”
Wembanyama is prepared to comply with any requirements set by the Spurs to ensure he is fully prepared. He added, “I just know that as I’m not playing in the World Cup, I’ve got two to three months — two to three great months — that are coming up and they’re going to change my life.”
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