Victor Wembanyama Olympic debut: French superstar’s first game was even more impressive than his stats show

At 20 years old, Victor Wembanyama is being counted on to be the best player on a France team that has realistic expectations to win a gold medal. It’s a heavy burden for a guy with one season of NBA experience, but if Wembanyama’s Olympic debut is any indication, he’s more than up for the challenge. 

In France’s 78-66 win over Brazil on Saturday, Wembanyama stuffed the stat sheet with 19 points, nine rebounds, four steals, three blocks and two assists. There were stretches where he was electrifying, like when France found itself down 12 four minutes into the second quarter and Wembanyama proceeded to score or assist on six of the final eight buckets of the half as France went into the locker room with a one-point lead. 

Even having watched Wembanyama during his sensational rookie season in San Antonio, in which he was probably the best defender in the league and a borderline All-NBA player over the second half, it’s still a shock to the basketball system to watch him do some of the things he does at his size. 

Like this left-hand dunk from outside the restricted area. 

Look at the vertical separation he creates against Gui Santos, who is 6-foot-6, on this jumper. 

The full range of Wembanyama’s highlights, from his smooth jumpers and footwork post moves to the length and ferocity of his finishes, offer a glimpse into a level of domination that actually exceeded the numbers Wemby inked into stat sheet. 

Again, these numbers, splendid as they are, don’t tell the full story of Wemby’s impact on this game. He “only” had three blocks, for instance, but the degree to which Wemby altered Brazil’s shot chart with his looming paint presence was exponential. These are professional basketball players terrified to shoot. 

It’s also not just Wemby’s extraordinary physical gifts and the plays they allow him to make that make him so special; it’s his feel for the ebbs and flows of a game. When he needs to force his own action. When he needs to involve others. It’s something you can’t really teach, but rather, something that usually has to be learned over time. 

Wemby already has it. He’s the clear leader of this team in both play and spirit. Even with all the emotions that go with playing for his country on home soil, and the anxiety his own coach admitted he saw his young star experiencing leading up to this game, he never once tried to over-do anything. He was composed and energetic at the same time. At the right time. He provided that superstar calm that bathes an entire team in confidence, even when things aren’t going well, knowing they have the best player on the court. 

Just listen to future Hall-of-Famer Dwyane Wade, who was calling the game and seeing Wembanyama live for the first time, gush about the French phenom’s patience and veteran understanding of team dynamics. 

In addition to Wembanyama, Nic Batum was terrific for France with 19 points, and Frank Ntilikina added three 3-pointers and his typically outstanding perimeter defense. Rudy Gobert had some solid finishes to go with a pair of blocks, but you’d like to see him make more of an impact on the glass, particularly on the offensive end, where he can be vital for France in this tournament creating extra possessions. Gobert didn’t have any offensive rebounds on Saturday. 

Ultimately, It wasn’t all roses for France. For starters, Brazil is not a true measure of what they’ll face if they want to medal in this tournament. The guard production is going to be problem. But Wembanyama was the story of this game, and he’ll likely be the story of this tournament for France. 

If you’re not an avid NBA fan, which many Olympic viewers are not, you got a peek into the once-in-a-lifetime potential of a 7-foot-4 borderline alien basketball player otherwise known as Wemby, but also understand, you didn’t see anything Spurs fans aren’t already used to seeing on a nightly basis. This is what Wemby does. It’s just all the more impressive to do on this kind of stage in his first Olympic game.