"It's a basketball thing": Victor Wembanyama reacts to using heated NSFW roar and dismisses USA influence
Victor Wembanyama and France came out of a 84-80 hole with 16 seconds left in regulation period to win 94-90 in overtime. The San Antonio Spurs star had a great overtime as he accounted for eight out of France's 10 points. After Wemby’s last basket in overtime, he allegedly screamed:
“Let’s f**king go!”
When San Antonio Express-News’ Mike Finger asked him if his time in the U.S. had influenced his NSFW celebration after the bucket, Wembanyama replied:
“That’s a basketball player thing. I think in Mongolia, Australia or the North Pole, they say it.”
It was clear from the big man’s response that he was still pumped up after getting a crucial win against the Japanese. The French team struggled in the lead up to the Olympics and a loss on Tuesday would have spelled disaster for the host nation.
However, because of Victor Wembanyama’s all-round play, France secured the win and now sit atop Group B with two wins. The French team previously beat Brazil 78-66 on Saturday. Wemby ended the game against Japan with 18 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists, two steals and two blocks.
Wembanyama got great support from Matthew Strazel and Evan Fournier, who had 17 and 14 points, respectively. Despite the French win, the big news of the game should be Japan’s Yuki Kawamura’s 29 points. LA Lakers center Rui Hachimura had a great game as well, as he finished with 24 points.
Victor Wembanyama is aiming for gold with France
Despite being just 20 years old, the weight of an entire nation for men’s basketball gold is on Victor Wembanyama. The 2023-24 NBA Rookie of the Year understood the challenge in front of him and is focused on winning. Before the Olympics commenced, Wembanyama sat down for an interview.
“We know we have the chance to win gold,” Victor Wembanyama said, via Olympics.com.
"We won silver at the last Games, so we were not far away. The goal is to bring something new to the table. Our goals are something that we have never achieved before and we have to find the means to accomplish them. I am super excited and impatient to share the floor with all my colleagues, especially with Rudy (Gobert).”
France finished second in Tokyo 2020 after losing to the U.S. in the final. Even though the French haven’t played their best basketball yet, the team has the third-best odds to win gold after Team USA and Canada.