SAN ANTONIO — After teammate-led chants of “Wemby! Wemby!” a smiling Victor Wembanyama entered the theater on the Scobee Planetarium to a rousing ovation from the 50 or so kids in attendance.
This wasn’t your regular Rookie of the Yr award presentation — becoming for somebody who has been dubbed an alien.
Wembanyama walked in and took his seat within the entrance row of the 100-seat theater with children from native Boys & Ladies Golf equipment, Large Brother/Large Sister applications and college students from a close-by elementary faculty sitting amongst a number of of Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs teammates and staffers.
Earlier than he walked in, Spurs ahead Jeremy Sochan received the children riled up and chanting because the Rookie of the Yr entered the room.
Wembanyama and firm watched a video about his rookie season — that includes clips from Wembanyama as younger as seven years outdated — earlier than Spurs basic supervisor Brian Wright introduced him together with his trophy.
“This is without doubt one of the representations of our progress all year long and all of the efforts we made on the court docket,” Wembanyama stated. “I feel receiving this trophy right here with followers, with children and everybody being completely happy to be right here, it is also a great feeling for me and a great illustration of the love that we felt all year long. To me, that is the best approach to obtain [the trophy].”
On Monday, Wembanyama was named the unanimous winner of the Rookie of the Yr award, turning into the sixth participant to take action within the final 40 seasons and the primary since Karl-Anthony Cities in 2016 with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Regardless of that, Wembanyama stated he by no means felt that the race was over as a result of he was centered on different issues.
“I had different issues to consider,” Wembanyama stated. “I had a accountability in direction of my group and the problem of staying dominant and useful for the group and likewise staying wholesome. I had many issues on my thoughts the entire season. It was no larger than that.”
Wembanyama stated he received goosebumps watching a video the Spurs ready for him that featured clips of him taking part in basketball as younger as 7 years outdated.
However after that performed, Wembanyama accepted his trophy from Wright after which had his personal video by which he thanked those that got here earlier than him with the Spurs, coach Gregg Popovich, his teammates, coaches, workers members, his household and finally the followers, ending the video with: “The longer term goes to be enjoyable.”
“I am practical, I do know there’s going to be movies of myself on the web and they are going to speak about profitable the award, however there’s a lot extra to this,” Wembanyama stated. “To me, it is a lot extra to acknowledge one another’s greatness and worth.
“I imply, this isn’t sufficient. That is barely one thing. I need to preserve the momentum going and let everyone know they’re part of the household and part of the story. I consider within the followers, my teammates, the workers. I consider in them as a lot as I feel they consider in me.”
Subsequent up for Wembanyama are the Summer season Olympics in Paris, the place he’ll get to symbolize his house nation of France on the worldwide stage.
“This summer season is particular as a result of it is fairly busy,” Wembanyama stated. “However yeah, I am nonetheless going to have time to, I’ve had time to loosen up already in France a bit of bit with my household, and now I will have time to follow and I will have just a bit little bit of time after the Olympics, hopefully to work out earlier than the season.”
