Victor Wembanyama Impresses In NBA Debut

Victor Wembanyama did a little bit of everything in a solid NBA debut for the Spurs. The French rookie had 15 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, and 2 steals in his 23-minute debut. However, he also struggled with turnovers and fouls, picking up five of each. “Lots of emotions for sure. But it would have been perfect with a win,” Wembanyama said after the game. “It might be frustrating, but always keeping your heads up is good for my teammates. I can’t show it on the court, and we learn every day,” he added.

His performance was also praised by head coach Gregg Popovich. “One of the toughest things for a player is to get into foul trouble. You never get into a rhythm, you’re in and out of the game and that sort of thing. I thought his maturity showed, even at a young age, where he came in with the last seven minutes and just played. We ran some stuff for him, he executed where a lot of guys would have been totally out of it by then because, as you said, were in foul trouble and didn’t get the rhythm. I thought he had a wonderful outing considering that,” Coach Pop noted.

Read More: Anthony Davis Hypes Revenge Game Against Nuggets, Scores 0 Points In Second Half

Wembanyama Impresses But Spurs Lose Late

Despite Wembanyama’s strong showing, the Spurs couldn’t hold on to their early lead. A combined 55 points from Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving helped the Mavericks pull away late in the all-Texas affair. Dončić ended the night on a triple-double with 33 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists. The Mavs star also had high praise for the rookie. “He has obviously the size, obviously like everybody talks, but the way he moves for 7-5, 7-6 — I don’t know what it is, sorry — but he moves incredible. He moves like a point guard almost. So it’s pretty amazing to see him. He’s going to have a great future, and it’s going to be amazing to watch,” Dončić said.

However, Devin Vassell, who led the Spurs with 23 points, said the team expects Wembanyama to only get greater. “We’re all figuring each other out. We’re all figuring out Wemby. He’s figuring us out. We just got to figure out how to play as a team and make sure that the game is easy for him and he doesn’t have to do as much as he has to do on iso situations and just getting him easy lobs, easy looks to get him going. He demands so much attention. If they are double-teaming him, we have to be able to cut and make certain plays out of that.”

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Victor Wembanyama Shares Photo with Drake Ahead of First NBA Game

Victor Wembanyama Opts Out FIBA World Cup to Focus on Rookie Season

On the eve of the NBA season, Victor Wembanyama, the No. 1 overall draft pick let off a photo dump of the last few months of his life. “Random dump before the serious stuff begins,” Wemby wrote.

The opening picture places Wemby towering over Drake in what is to be believed as their frist meeting. Additional picks include some vacation and nature shots, before ending in his new San Antonio Spurs jersey.

You can see the dump below.

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Stephen Curry Tries His Hardest To Win Jump Ball Over Victor Wembanyama: Watch

Stephen Curry caught the attention of NBA fans on social media, Friday night, by seemingly trying his hardest to beat out Victor Wembanyama for a jump ball. Curry, who measures 6’ 2” didn’t come close to outreaching the 7’ 4” rookie. Wembanyama has been taking the league by storm since the San Antonio Spurs drafted him first overall in the 2023 NBA Draft.

Curry and Wembanyama faced off during the Spurs’ 122-117 win over the Golden State Warriors in their preseason matchup. In response to the jump ball, one fan tweeted: “Looks like he’s having fun with that. He seems to have a bit of a smile on his face.” Another joked: “He should have taken it with a ladder.”

Read More: Victor Wembanyama Bounces Back With Massive Summer League Performance

Steph Curry Defends Victor Wembanyama During Preseason

San Antonio Spurs’ French forward-center #01 Victor Wembanyama drives towards the basket as Golden State Warriors’ US guard #30 Stephen Curry defends during the NBA preseason game between the San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors at Chase Center in San Francisco, California on October 20, 2023. (Photo by Loren Elliott / AFP) (Photo by LOREN ELLIOTT/AFP via Getty Images)

Prior to the game, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr remarked that Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich was “rejuvenated” by Wembanyama. In response, Popovich jokingly took offense. “What was I being rejuvenated from?” Popovich asked. “Was I in a mental institution or was I depressed and curled up in my bedroom or something?” Pop added: “Steve’s an a**hole.”

Steph Curry Tries To Outreach Victor Wembanyama

Wembanyama recently discussed the influence Pop is having on his development with San Antonio Express-News. “This is how I also recognize how good of a person he is,” Wembanyama said. “He just learns, he just learned to know me, quicker than almost anyone I’ve met in my life before.” He added: “I don’t want to limit myself to what’s already been done. I don’t want to limit myself to what’s conventional.” Be on the lookout for more updates on the Spurs rookie as the regular season begins later this month.

Read More: Britney Spears And Victor Wembanyama Address Alleged Vegas Slap

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Chris Paul Tries To Look Taller In Photo With Victor Wembanyama, Social Media Goes Wild

Chris Paul is going viral after photographers caught him trying to add a few inches in a recent jersey swap. Paul caught up with Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama in the tunnel after the preseason finale between San Antonio and Golden State. As they posed for a photo together, Paul could be seen pushing himself onto his tiptoes to close the height gap. Paul is 6″0 but Wembanyama towers over him at 7″4.

The photo quickly did the rounds on social media. One user compared the photo to those of NBA players with their wives, who are often tiny in comparison to their professionally-tall husbands. Another posted a gif of Legolas from Lord Of The Rings asking (Gimli) if he would like a box to stand on. Meanwhile, there were many people complaining about the ridiculousness of a jersey swap following a preseason game.

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Wembanyama & Spurs Beat Warriors & Paul In Preseason Finale

The Spurs closed out the NBA preseason on a high note, handing the Warriors their only loss before the season gets underway next week. Wembanyama led all scorers with 19 points in just 21 minutes, adding four rebounds and five blocks as well. It’s been a great preseason for the French rookie, who showed off just about everything that makes him unique as a player. The Spurs open the season against the Mavericks at home. The impact of Wembanyama on a Spurs team not expected to do a whole this season is one of the biggest stories of the NBA.

Paul had a much quieter game, putting up just five points in 19 minutes. In fact, just one Warriors starter, Steph Curry, cracked double-digit points. However, the Warriors only lost by five thanks to big performances from Dario Saric, Jonathan Kuminga, and Moses Moody. The Warriors will face the Suns in one of the marquee games on opening night next week.

Read More: Doc Rivers Explains How He Would Build 2024 Olympic Team

Best Reactions To Paul-Wembanyama Jersey Swap

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Victor Wembanyama’s Agent Dismisses Weight Concerns

The Spurs have shut down Victor Wembanyama after two games at the NBA Summer League. The #1 overall pick struggled offensively in his debut, scoring just nine points. However, he still had a strong showing elsewhere on the court with eight rebounds (all defensive) and five blocks. He bounced back in his second game, earning a double-double with 27 points and 12 rebounds. However, it was later reported that Wembanyama would be kept off the court for the rest of the Summer League. In an interview, Wembanyama said that the rest of the offseason would be “100% basketball” as he prepares for the start of his rookie season.

However, many questions remain about whether Wembanyama can live up to the hype, especially when he takes on the NBA proper. One of the biggest questions concerns his physicality. Wembanyama is officially measured at 7″4 and 209 lbs. Especially during his debut, it was clear that Wembanyama struggled to contend with heavier, more physical players. That has led a number of pundits to suggest that if Wenbanyama wants to succeed in the NBA, he’s going to need to add some weight. However, it’s not an avenue shared by Wembanyama’s camp.

Wembanyama’s Agent Shoots Down Weight Concerns

Victor Wembanyama
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JULY 09: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs reacts after a free throw against the Portland Trail Blazers in the second half of a 2023 NBA Summer League game at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 09, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Speaking to ESPN‘s Marc J. Spears, Bouna Ndiaye dismissed claims that Wenbayama’s weight could be an issue. “People are wrong. We’re not focused at all on weights. I don’t want to put weight on his body. We’re going to fight to not put weight on his body. Weight on his body [is] a big mistake. We focus on strength, core. We were very pleased that he linked up [with Kareem Abdul-] Jabbar who played until [41] years old. I’m very glad they, they connected because [they] have a similar body type. Kareem was not heavy. Victor is more mobile, gaudier, and taller than Kareem. So, that difference in height is a challenge and is something that we are working on every day. Making him heavy? We don’t want to do that.”

Kareem but with even more defense is a very fitting comparison. Wembanyama, with his wholly unique skillset, has the opportunity to redefine the league. Maybe he’s not going to match Kareem’s rookie ppg of 28.8 but Wembanyama will almost certainly supplement any scoring deficit with defensive prowess. Wenbanyama could become just the third player to win Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in their career. However, Kareem still played at 225 lbs, 14 lbs heavier than Wembanyama’s listed weight.

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Britney Spears Blasts Radio Show For Saying She “Deserved” Vegas Slap

Last week, the music and basketball worlds collided in the most dramatic way. While dining at Catch, a restaurant at the ARIA Hotel in Las Vegas, Britney Spears attempted to get a picture with NBA rookie Victor Wembanyama. After approaching Wembanyama from behind, and addressing him in a British accent, Spears tapped the 7″4 foward/center on the back. Damian Smith, the San Antonio Spurs’ Director of Team Security, blindly batted Spears’ hand away, appearing to cause it to ricochet back into her face. As Wembanyama was ushered into the restaurant, Spears could be heard yelling “That’s America for you! Fuck you all!”

Spears’ team initially claimed that Smith had “backhanded” the pop star hard enough to knock her to the ground. They also filed a police report and demanded apologies from Wembanyama, Smith, and the Spurs. However, law enforcement declined to file charges, citing a lack of criminal intent and video evidence that showed Spears “hit herself in the face”. Regardless, Spears’ fans trolled Wembanyama on social media as the rookie struggled in his first Summer League game. However, Spears has now addressed external claims and comments about the incident.

Spears Hits Back At Media Comments

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Maria River Red (@britneyspears)

Speaking on her Instagram, Spears addressed comments she had “heard on a radio station” that stated she “deserved to get hit” and that “security were just doing their job.” Unsurprisingly, Spears took umbridge with this line of thinking. “I’ve been with the most famous people in the world. Girls would literally throw themselves at these guys. Once, I was knocked down by like, three 12-year-olds trying to get my picture. Not even one time did security touch them or even come near them. Point being is, I didn’t appreciate the people saying that I deserved it, because no woman ever deserves to be hit.

She continued. “I simply tapped him on the back and his [Smith’s] hand came back, hit me in the face, and knocked me to the floor. My best friend picked me up and hugged me.” She continued. “I did get an apology at my table thirty minutes later. But I am yet to receive a public apology.” The matter appears to be settled for everyone apart from Spears. While claiming she deserved to be slapped in an unconscionable position to hold, Spears continues to perpetuate misinformation about the event. All available evidence shows that she was not knocked down during the incident. Furthermore, nothing is gained by continually attempting to compare different security scenarios. Regardless, Spears is right in rebuking the idea that she “deserved” to be hit. However, that message is lessened when it is tied to an inaccurate retelling of the incident.

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Britney Spears Reveals Her Basketball Prowess Following Victor Wembanyama Incident

Britney Spears has been through a lot over the last few decades. Up until recently, she had been under the control of a conservatorship. However, a judge ultimately decided to give her autonomy back. Although, since that time, Spears has continued to make some unusual appearances in the public eye. For instance, just last week she found herself beefing with the likes of Victor Wembanyama. This all occurred after she tried to get a picture of him. Originally, she accused his security detail of assaulting her.

Overall, this ended up being proven false. In video footage, Britney Spears went up to Wembanyama and tried to tap his shoulder from behind. Subsequently, a security guard put his arm up, and Spears hit herself in the face. Overall, it was a pretty embarrassing moment that has some fans questioning whether or not she is of sound body and mind. Regardless, she is now taking to Instagram again. This time, however, she is discussing her basketball skills and preconceived notions about her.

Read More: Kevin Federline Shoots Down Report That Britney Spears Is On “Meth”

Britney Spears Speaks

“Funny people see me dancing a lot … IN SCHOOL I didn’t dance or cheerlead … I was a point guard !!! I called all the plays and I was fast as hell cause I was like a mouse … I couldn’t shoot as well as I handled the ball !!! The rush of the game THE UNKNOWN … no set ups … the tricks … the FAKES … the ball … baby can f*cking play !!!” Britney Spears wrote. This is all illustrated by a video of a young boy playing basketball. This kid actually went viral as some were confused by his celebrations on the court.

Overall, this is all very bizarre. At this point, Victor Wembanyama has completely forgotten the whole thing. He is balling during Summer League and fans want to see where he goes from here. Hopefully, this saga comes to an end, sooner rather than later.

Read More: Britney Spears’ Mom Wants Her To “Make Amends” With Jamie Lynn

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Victor Wembanyama Bounces Back With Massive Summer League Performance

Victor Wembanyama is easily the biggest draw of the NBA Summer League so far. Unfortunately, his first game with the Spurs was a huge disappointment. His shooting statistics were abysmal and a lot of fans rushed to call him a bust. However, over on Sunday night, he had an opportunity to redeem himself. In his second game, he played the Portland Trail Blazers in what promised to be a huge draw. Overall, Wembanyama was able to change the narrative around himself with a truly incredible performance.

The first-overall pick was able to pick up 27 points and another 12 rebounds throughout the night. Additionally, his shooting splits were a massive improvement from Friday night. He also had some big blocks, some three-pointers, and even some dunks that had fans singing his praises. All-in-all, he was looking a lot like the first-overall pick he was always destined to be.

Read More: Britney Spears And Victor Wembanyama Address Alleged Vegas Slap

Victor Wembanyama Shows Out

In the clips above, you can see how he was doing a great job throughout the game. Unfortunately, his team was unable to grab the win. Subsequently, Victor Wembanyama made it seem like he will not actually be returning for the rest of Summer League. Instead, he will shut it down and get ready for training camp with the rest of his Spurs teammates. Ultimately, this is probably for the best as Wembanyama looks to be healthy for the start of the pre-season. Hopefully, he is able to shine.

After a rough couple of days due to Britney Spears, the young man is back to his normal self. He is already showing his composure, and we’re hopeful that he will live up to the hype. Let us know your thoughts on Victor Wembanyama, down below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news from around the sports world. With the NBA in full swing, there are going to be some great storylines to watch out for. In fact, the new in-season tournament is going to create lasting drama for the league.

Read More: Britney Spears Fans Troll Victor Wembanyama During Spurs Debut

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SOURCE SPORTS: Victor Wembanyama Drops 27-Point Double Double in Second Summer League Game

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Victor Wembanyama has found his summer league groove. The Spurs No. 1 overall draft pick has bounced back from a quiet opener to drop 27 points, 12 rebounds, and three blocks in his second outing in Las Vegas.

The Spurs lost the game 85-80, and Wembanyama acknowledges he may have been able to do more.

“I wish we could have won the game,” Wembanyama said to ESPN. “I think I could have done more to help my team win the game. We got 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.”

The post SOURCE SPORTS: Victor Wembanyama Drops 27-Point Double Double in Second Summer League Game first appeared on The Source.

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Victor Wembanyama’s Security Guard Will Not Face Charges After Encounter with Britney Spears

Victor Wembanyama Opts Out FIBA World Cup to Focus on Rookie Season

Following an encounter with Britney Spears, the security for Victor Wembanyama will not face charges. Wembanyama is the first overall draft pick for the San Antonio Spurs.

Last week, news of an encounter between the two occurred. According to ESPN, Spears said she tapped the star and was backhanded in response.

The incident happened at the ARIA Hotel and Casino in Vegas. According to TMZ, Spears says she noticed Webmanyama and tapped him on the shoulder, wanting a photo, but was nearly slapped to the floor, and her glasses flew off. Spears wrote on Instagram that the moment was “super embarrassing to share with the world but its out there already.”

“I have yet to get a public apology from the player, his security or their organization,” Spears wrote. “I hope they will …”

Wembanyama stated he had no clue the woman attempting to get his attention was Spears.

“I couldn’t stop. That person was calling me, ‘Sir, sir,’ and that person grabbed me from behind,” Wembanyama said. “I didn’t see what happened because I was walking straight and didn’t stop. That person grabbed me from behind — not on my shoulder, she grabbed me from behind. I just know the security pushed her away. I don’t know with how much force, but security pushed her away. I didn’t stop to look so I could walk in and enjoy a nice dinner.”

TMZ Sports obtained a police report with details from Spears’ security team stating Wembanyama’s security did not strike the singer with a closed fist and pushed her hand off the player, calling it a “standard response.” Police agreed with the assessment, stating the guard “pushes her hand off of the player without looking, which causes Britney’s hand to hit herself in the face.”

The post Victor Wembanyama’s Security Guard Will Not Face Charges After Encounter with Britney Spears first appeared on The Source.

The post Victor Wembanyama’s Security Guard Will Not Face Charges After Encounter with Britney Spears appeared first on The Source.