Victor Wembanyama: ‘I’m worried for the opponents in a couple years’

Victor Wembanyama: ‘I’m worried for the opponents in a couple years’

While different athletes express confidence in myriad ways, it’s imperative to have irrational confidence to become and flourish as a professional athlete.

Victor Wembanyama, a generational basketball talent, has that kind of confidence. After France fell short of the Gold Medal to Team USA Saturday to cap off the 2024 Olympics, the 7-foot-5 frenchman expressed confidence heading into the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, Calif.

“Nobody knows what’s going to happen, but what’s for sure is we’re growing. Basketball is growing here,” Wembanyama said, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. “Nobody is going to take [this experience] from me. I’m learning and I’m worried for the opponents in a couple years.”

Nicolas Batum, who’s been apart of the last four Olympic teams, recently expressed that France is closing the gap on USA despite only having one victory in nine total meetings against the Americans.

I wouldn’t be surprised if, in 2-3 years, we were calling Wembanyama the best player in the entire league. The reigning Rookie of the Year averaged 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.2 steals and a league-leading 3.6 blocks on 56.5 percent true shooting across 71 games last year.

In six Olympic contests, Wembanyama posted 15.8 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.7 blocks despite shooting just 42.2 percent from the floor and 28.9 percent from 3-point range. It wasn’t his most efficient sample, but he was still incredibly effective on both sides of the ball to help buoy his squad to the Gold Medal game.

Nic Batum: USA Basketball remains the best, but France is getting ‘closer and closer’

Batum won’t be back, and I presume French star guard Nando De Colo, 37, won’t be either. But Wembanyama could be joined by No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher, Alex Sarr and Nolan Traore by the time the 2028 Olympics roll around. It’s not impossible that France will be just as talented as it is right now, especially if Wembanyama takes a sizable leap over the next four years.

France, who still seeks its first-ever Olympic gold, will have a prime opportunity to do it as long as Wembanyama is there. He’s graciously called an “alien” after all … the expectations for him are sky high, but I wouldn’t put it past him to accomplish anything over the next 15-20 years.

If you asked him, he probably wouldn’t put it past himself, either.

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