Basketball: star Victor Wembanyama featured at the All Star Game

Europe 1 with AFP 6:27 p.m., December 28, 2022

The French phenomenon Victor Wembanyama will be the main attraction of the All Star Game organized by the National Basketball League on Thursday December 29 at the Accor Arena in Paris.

And it takes more to disrupt the strong winger of Boulogne-Levallois, top scorer, rebounder and blocker of Elite.

Wembanyama approaches this event with an astonishing mixture of relaxation, maturity and ambition, his trademark.

"This All Star Game, I didn't really think about it at the start of the season. My goal was to win matches and perform," he recalled at a press conference on Wednesday.

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The "extraterrestrial"

While panicking the statistics in the league (22.9 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3 blocks per game), the one that the superstar of the Los Angeles Lakers LeBron James described as an alien did not set himself a goal. points to score or rebounds to capture Thursday.

"I have no goals, apart from victory," he said, as he will participate in the match between the best French players in the championship and the best foreign players in the three-point shooting contest. .

"I'm going to try to have fun and play a good game, I don't want us to fall into a match only for show", continued "Wemby".

But the native of Chesnay (Yvelines), who should be the first player chosen in the prestigious 2023 NBA Draft next June, unheard of for a Frenchman, knows that we now expect spectacle and exploits from him.

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"It should be fine"

Without a doubt, he will be the most observed player of this All Star Game: "All this attention, it has no impact on me", he however swept away.

These one-day teammates are delighted to rub shoulders with the one whose championship matches are now broadcast in the United States and who attracts stars like actor Michael Douglas or rapper Travis Scott.

"It's better to have it with you than against you, it's one more weapon," smiled Boris Dallo, an opponent in normal times in the league in the jersey of Cholet.

"I rubbed shoulders with him in the France team recently," added Limoges full-back Nicolas Lang.

"What is easier to defend when you have him in your team, you feel like a great defender!".

Everyone insists on the impact that a Wembanyama can have on French basketball, already well spoiled with its players who play in the NBA and who have made history like Tony Parker, not to mention the results of the French teams, vice-champion Olympic for men and bronze medalist for women in Tokyo in 2021.

"It's very good for French basketball, it's strong what he does (...) he will leave a beautiful image to the "little ones" who watch him", underlined Giovan Oniangue (Pau-Orthez).

The interested party does not project further than the All Star Game on Thursday: "It should go well", smiled "Wemby", confident and serene, before joining his teammates for their only training session.