Victor Vembanyama or the explosion of energy that mesmerized Las Vegas

The night started like most of the Thunder’s first 25 games. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander controlled the tempo and the Thunder defense dictated its law. After twelve minutes of play, the Spurs were already at -11.

And then suddenly everything changed. Absent from the field since 14.11. Victor Vembanyama he returned to start the second quarter and with him the entire energy of T-Mobile Arena changed. On the pitch, in public, in the press box… Everyone felt it.

“Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect”Mitch Johnson admitted. “Between the adrenaline, the nerves, the context of the Cup, I didn’t know how he would react. We have to add to that the limitation in playing time and that was certainly the worst scenario for him. But he threw himself into the match 300%. He gave everything, he was in a hurry at times, but it was for the right reasons and for the good.”

A burst of energy like Stephen Curry

The Frenchman played just three minutes before sitting down and the Thunder took the opportunity to recover and move to +16. Victor Wembanyama (22 points on 6/11 shooting, 9 rebounds in 21 minutes) returned to the court to end the half, and the same discharge took over the room again.

Like Vecna ​​in “Stranger Things”, “Wemby” controlled everything that was happening at that moment. The intensity of his teammates, the reactions of the public, the sudden doubt present in the minds of his opponents.

The only comparison that came to mind and was confirmed by Lindy Waters III, who was in Golden State before coming to San Antonio, is Stephen Curry’s hot shot.

“It’s the same thing. They each do it in a different way, but they’re two unique players, but they have a similar energy.”he told us in the dressing room after the match. “You could really feel it. And we were confident because we knew he was going to come back, but as soon as he came in, everything changed. His energy was infectious and they had no answers for him.”

Like a lion in a cage

Before the meeting, doubts still hovered. A month off? Facing the best defense in the league, in full swing? “It didn’t surprise me at all that he was ready”Sequel to Lindy Waters III. “He’s working like crazy. We’ve played a few practice matches with him the last few days and we’ve seen that he’s ready. The staff decided not to play him in Los Angeles, and he’s been like a lion in a cage.”

Where many players can be overwhelmed by emotions or questions, Victor Wembanyama relies on his mental strength. Why worry when the right answer is obvious to him?

“Regardless of the conditions, I knew I could do what I had to do in three quarters instead of four, so I never asked myself that question.”he described after the match. “It was my first shift after I don’t know how many weeks. The only option was this. To play with a clear intention, with power, with intensity. I was a ball of energy before the match, I couldn’t stop, so I could put all that at the service of the team. And if it can hurt the opponents too, that’s a bonus.”

The day before, he told ESPN that he believed he was the best player in the league when he was on the field. Victor Wembanyama confirmed what he has been doing since the beginning of the season.

He’s on a mission. If some forgot what “Wembi” is capable of during his long month away, they got a real reminder. The shockwave left Las Vegas and was felt by the entire NBA.

Comments collected in Las Vegas.