SAN ANTONIO — The 2024 Paris Olympics are just around the corner, and San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama says he is thrilled to participate in front of the home crowd.
“It is still a dream to be able to be at the Olympic Games. I see it almost like any other sporting experience, but even more demanding. Mentally, the emotion is tremendous. It’s hard to realize that it’s really the Olympics. Of course, it’s different from when I used to watch them on TV. It’s still a dream,” Wembanyama said during the pre-Olympic press conference.
Wemby and Team France enter the basketball tournament on a four-game exhibition game slide.
However, that is not discouraging Wemby's spirits.
“We are on the right track because the energy of our entire group, players and coaching staff, is incredible,” he said.
In group play, France will play Japan, Germany and Brazil to start their gold medal run.
SPURS CHASED A PAIR OF GUARDS
According to a report from Yahoo! Sports, the Spurs were interested in Cavs guard Darius Garland and Andrew Nembhard before signing Chris Paul.
However, the report states San Antonio will continue to monitor Nembhard moving forward.
"The Spurs will be one team to monitor for Nembhard moving forward, sources said, after San Antonio registered trade interest in Nembhard this offseason. Before San Antonio brought Chris Paul to organize the Spurs’ offense around Victor Wembanyama, sources said San Antonio called various teams around the league exploring veteran guards who have still yet to enter their primes. Cavaliers All-Star guard Darius Garland was another talented ball-handler the Spurs called about, sources said, although Cleveland has rebuffed any inbound trade interest for Garland to date."
It is easy to see why the Spurs were interested in the pair of guards: They are young and entering their prime years and could join Wemby and the franchise's rebuild.
Regardless, San Antonio does have plenty of guard depth entering next season with Paul, Tre Jones, rookie Stephon Castle, Blake Wesley, and Malaki Branham.
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