PARIS (AP) — Adieu France, hello, America.
It was a farewell embrace – not joy – for Victor Wimbanyama as he bid farewell to his teammates and the French League, before setting out for what much expected It would be a sparkling career in the NBA.
Wimpanyama’s performance — 22 points, seven rebounds and four blocks — didn’t stop Boulogne-Levallois from losing 92-85 to Monaco in the must-win third game of the best-of-five French league series on Thursday.
to accommodate the increased interest in seeing the 19-year-old French miracleGame 3 – and 4 if they’ve won – were shifted from a 4,000-seat stadium to Court Philippe Chatrier at Roland Garros, home of the French Open, a four-seater tennis tournament. More than 14,000.
Fans sang “Thank You, Wimpy” as Wimpanyama is very popular They waved and clapped at them.
“I’m sorry for the fans who love to watch the show,” Wimpanyama said on beIN Sports TV after the match. “Of course I am proud of what I was able to do with my coach (Vincent Collett), in getting the team to the finals. But I am not satisfied.”
Next week, the San Antonio Spurs are expected to hit a 7-foot-3 Wimpanyama #1 pick in the NBA Draftwhere he will follow in the footsteps of French greats Tony Parker and Hall of Famers David Robinson and Tim Duncan.
With Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé among the crowd – likely with an eye on Wimbanyama Fellow Bilal Coulibaly Before the draft – the Mets opened up a huge lead but with 50 seconds left the score was tied at 85-85. Former NBA player with the Toronto Raptors, Jordan Lloyd sank two three-pointers to end Wimpanyama’s hopes of signing the French crown.
Wimpanyama is “amazing” but “I’m also excited about Bilal. He’s young, he has a lot of skills, so French basketball is in good shape,” Ranadive told beIN Sport.
Wimpanyama, who opened the scoring with Reverse alley dippingHe looked sad as he hugged his teammates as Monaco celebrated.
“Wimbe had a great game, but this team is unbelievable,” said Lloyd, who finished with 22 points.
It was all pointing to a special night for Wembanyama and then Game 4 on Saturday. Wimbanyama clenched his fist when an infield pass to Diante Jones made it 24-10, then roared as he used his giant tire to block a shot early in the second quarter.
The “Wimpy, Wimpy” chants got even louder when… hit pointer 3 To make it 47-37, louder when I tasted at Coulibaly For dipping in the early third quarter.
It wasn’t enough, and it was Wimpy who put Eli Okubo on the foul line to give Monaco their first lead, 82-81, with just over three minutes left.
Loyd – not Wembanyama – ended up with MVP Award And the winners’ medal on court as Novak Djokovic made men’s Grand Slam history last Sunday with him His twenty-third title is men.
Wimpanyama’s journey towards greatness In his sport, however, he may only be in his prime.
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